Man Wearing a Large Cloak and a Small Naked Man on His Head
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish
Not on view
Ribera, a prolific draftsman who spent most of his career in Naples, is known for his engaging, caricature-like drawings. Here, a bald man gazing toward the viewer is surmounted by a small figure who holds a banner as if he has conquered a summit. The banner is inscribed with the name Niccolò Simonelli, a Roman collector, patron, and amateur art dealer. The significance of the inscription is not clear. We do not know if Ribera knew Simonelli or if the inscription indicates that Simonelli owned this drawing. The banner might even have been a later addition, and the small man originally may have held only the pole.
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