Baroque Oil on Canvas from the Neapolitan School, Circle of the Neapolitan Master Francesco Solimena (1657–1747)

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Exceptional Baroque oil on canvas from the Neapolitan School, circa 1720–1740, in the circle of the great Neapolitan master … Read more Title:

Exceptional Baroque oil on canvas from the Neapolitan School, circa 1720–1740, in the circle of the great Neapolitan master Francesco Solimena (1657–1747).

This intimate cabinet piece is a high-quality copy after Jusepe de Ribera's famous model "Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgment" from 1626 (original in Museo di Capodimonte, Naples).

The composition depicts Saint Jerome in a moment of mystical ecstasy: the kneeling penitent hermit with a tormented yet muscular body, partially draped in white cloth, holds a skull (memento mori symbol) while listening to a divine vision. In the shadowy background, barely visible, an angel appears, hinting at the trumpet of Judgment – an iconic motif from Ribera's tenebrist style.

The painting reflects the transition from the raw 17th-century tenebrism (extreme chiaroscuro influenced by Caravaggio and Ribera) to the softer, more elegant execution of the early 18th century, characteristic of Solimena's workshop: warm yellowish-brown flesh tones, golden highlights on the drapery, gradual light transitions, and subtle patina.

Technical details:
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 47× 37cm (cabinet format, perfect for intimate display)
- Verso: original wooden strainer (typical for 18th-century Neapolitan paintings)
- Condition: well-preserved with natural fine craquelure confirming age; no major interventions

A rare and atmospheric devotional work combining the spiritual depth of Counter-Reformation Baroque with Rococo refinement – ideal for collectors of Old Master paintings or as a focal point in a classic interior.

Provenance: private Austria collection. See less