The Martyrdom of Saint Philip

Ribera painted The Martyrdom of Saint Philip in 1639 (the subject was long misidentified as Saint Bartholomew), one of his most celebrated works. The painting depicts the moment before the execution, as the saint is hoisted aloft on a cross-like structure. Philip's martyrdom by crucifixion was a Counter-Reformation subject that emphasized the apostle's imitation of Christ's own death. The painting was enormously influential and was widely copied.

The dramatic composition captures the physical effort of the executioners raising the saint's body, creating powerful diagonal movements across the canvas. Ribera's masterful chiaroscuro and the muscular realism of the figures demonstrate his command of large-scale Baroque drama.