Resumen de Riflessioni e nuove proposte per il Maestro del Gesù tra i dottori
The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew formerly in the Astarita collection, Naples, until now believed to have been painted by Hendrick van Somer or possibly Aniello Falcone, prompts a reassessment of the so-called Master of Christ among the Doctors. In fact, the artist's name-piece (Turin, private collection), first situated by Roberto Longhi in relation to Ribera's prototype of "Christ among the Doctors" (Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum) and later considered a posible early work by the Master of the Annunciation to the Shepherds, shows a strong Riberesque imprint. Other canvases are here attributed for the first time to this still little-known and interesting Neapolitan painter of the period 1625-1650. He was probably trained in the workshop of Giuseppe di Guido -alias the Master of Fontanarosa- but our anonymous artist is not to be identified with Giuseppe. The influence of Ribera, stronger than that of Battistello Carracciolo, suggests that he was younger than Giuseppe di Guido and more receptive to the new and revolutionary language of Spanish painter.
