The Spanish Baroque artist and printmaker, Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652), has long been celebrated for his depictions of human suffering—faces contorted in pain, mutilated bodies, sagging flesh, and deformed bodies. This new volume explores, for the first time, the theme of violence in Ribera's work to demonstrate how his images are neither the product of his supposed sadism nor the expression of a purely aesthetic interest, but rather involve a complex artistic, religious and cultural engagement in the depiction of bodily suffering, challenging visitors to look beyond the shocking imagery.

Born in Játiva, Valencia, Ribera spent most of his career in Naples, southern Italy, where he influenced many Neapolitan masters including Salvator Rosa and Luca Giordano. He is often regarded as the heir to Caravaggio for his dramatic use of light and shadow, and his practice of painting directly from the live model. His prints and paintings alike had an enormous impact on the development of Baroque art all over Europe.