Ribera, Juan Antonio
(Madrid, 1779 – Madrid, 1860)
Juan Antonio Ribera is one of the most outstanding representatives of Spanish Neoclassicism, and the best painter of his generation. He began his training in Spain, in the workshops of the imagery painter José Piquer and the painter Francisco Bayeu, to move in 1802 as a pensioner of the king to Paris, where he is an outstanding disciple of Jacques-Louis David and attends the School of Fine Arts from 1806. Appointed painter of chamber by Charles IV, he travels with him to Rome in 1812, city where he settles until 1820. There he made numerous paintings, especially of religious themes, continued his work as a copyist and was appointed member of merit of the Academy of San Lucas. On his return to Spain in 1820, he also became a member of the Academy of San Fernando. In the latter he also worked as a teacher of drawing from life since 1838. In 1857 he was appointed director of the Prado Museum, a position he held until 1860, developing an intense activity as a restorer.
