La Piedad

The present canvas is signed and dated “Jusepe de Ribera español 1633” on the stone at the lower right corner, a formula used by the artist throughout the 1630s and to which on occasions he added his place of origin, “valenciano”. The canvas dates from one of Ribera’s most creative periods with regard to the quality and number of works emerging from his studio. This was the decade of the group of …