Saint Onuphrius 

Jusepe de Ribera painted ‘Saint Onuphrius’ using oil on canvas. The painting is dominated by a stark contrast between light and shadow, with the saint emerging from a dark background. His upward gaze directs our attention vertically, disrupting the horizontal emphasis usually found in portraits. Ribera’s manipulation of light, or tenebrism, doesn’t merely illuminate; it sculpts the figure, emphasizing the texture of his skin and the stark reality of his ascetic existence. The skull in the lower left acts as a memento mori, a reminder of mortality. Yet, it is Ribera’s visceral rendering of the saint’s flesh, the deep furrows of his brow, and the skeletal frame that provide the real punch. The use of asymmetrical composition and chiaroscuro serve to destabilize any romanticized notions of religious life. Instead, we are confronted with a raw, unflinching portrayal of human endurance and spiritual devotion. Ribera's technical skill transforms paint into an exploration of faith, suffering, and the body.