Ribalta, Francisco

(baptized June 2, 1565, Lérida, Spain—died Jan. 12, 1628, Valencia) Spanish painter. His early works are Mannerist. After settling in Valencia in 1598, he developed a darker and more naturalistic style (e.g., his Santiago altarpiece, 1603) under the influence of Caravaggio. After 1612 he achieved originality and grandeur in such paintings as Christ Embracing St. Bernard (1625–27). His later paintings, marked by powerfully modeled forms, simplicity of composition, and naturalistic lighting, anticipate the work of Diego Vel, Francisco Zurbar, and Jos.

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