CESARE FRACANZANO | SAINT JUDAS THADDEUS

A native of Apulia, Cesare Fracanzano moved to Naples in 1622 with his younger brother Francesco, also a painter. Some years later, circa 1630, they both entered the studio of Jusepe de Ribera, then the leading painter in the city. This depiction of Saint Judas Thaddeus, in fact, demonstrates the Spanish-born artist’s influence on Cesare. It likely once formed part of a series of canvases of the Apostles, similar to those produced by Ribera himself (see, for example, the Saint Judas Thaddeus in the Prado dating to circa 1630/5).

We are grateful to Prof. Nicola Spinosa for suggesting an attribution to Cesare Fracanzano based on photographs. He dates the painting to circa 1630, when Fracanzano was associated with Ribera.