Luca Giordano was the leading artist in Neapolitan painting in the late 17th
century. He was influenced by the Spanish painter Jusepe de Ribera, who also worked in Naples. Bartholomew, one of Christ’s apostles, is presented using dramatic light effects and with vibrant realism. His dirty hands and wrinkled face aim to provide a sense of the saint’s presence. The knife is a reminder that he died a martyr, as he was flayed alive.