Leonello Spada and Saint Jerome

'Saint Jerome' (1610s) by Leonello Spada; Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome

To continue my quest for Italian painters unknown to me, for today's post I have chosen the Baroque artist Leonello Spada, born in 1576 and died on 17 May 1622, a follower of Caravaggio. He was specialised in Quadratura painting, a term introduced in the 17th century and associated with Italian ceiling painting. He painted ceilings in Bolognese churches and palaces, but unfortunately most of them are lost. Today's painting is a depiction of Saint Jerome and is very different from his other work. I like it because it reminds me very much of the work of Spanish artist José de Ribera. In fact, this painting was attributed to Ribera until 1997. It entered the National Gallery in 1952 as a work of (the school of) Ribera. This suggested that Spada had met the Spanish artist during his visit to Rome when Ribera was also staying there. But the dates don't match. Spada had been there in 1608 and 1609 whereas Ribera spent time there later, from 1613 onward. This opened a new debate on the chronology of Spada's work. Anyway, I think the anatomical features in this painting are superb.