About this artwork

Ribera produced many such images of ancient philosophers in Naples from the 1620s onwards. As is often the case with these paintings, the identity of the figure represented – who is traditionally described as a mathematician – has not been established. The popularity of this composition is attested by the existence of at least a dozen versions of varying quality.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Unknown
  • title:
    A Philosopher
  • date created:
    About 1640
  • workshop of:
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    116.90 x 91.50 cm; Framed: 134.00 x 108.60 x 9.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Acquired by the RSA by 1859; transferred and presented 1910
  • accession number:
    NG 83
  • gallery:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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