An image can construct an entire understandable discourse regardless of language or era. In Baroque painting, allegories had that power: symbols like a balance with blindfolded eyes for justice, a flower next to the nose for smell, or a heart pierced by an arrow for love conveyed universal messages. During the Baroque period, these themes became especially popular, both because of the challenge they posed for artists, who had to innovate in their representation, and for the viewer, who had to decipher their meanings. Within this context, tenebrism emerged as one of the most influential and revolutionary languages of the time.
The Revolution of Light and Shadow
Tenebrism was a pictorial style characterized by the dramatic use of contrasts between light and darkness, creating scenes filled with tension and realism. Its origin is closely linked to Caravaggio, whose works redefined the way Baroque painting was understood. The radical naturalism, theatrical lighting, and narrative intensity of his paintings impacted all of Europe, giving rise to what we now know as the post-Caravaggio movement—a large group of artists who adopted and reinterpreted his style.
In this movement, light was not just a technical resource but a vehicle to focus attention on the essential elements of the scene. Darkness enveloped the viewer, and the theatrical lighting highlighted the emotion, gesture, and spirituality of the moment.
Jean Tassel and the Influence of Caravaggio
The auction on September 10th features a significant example: Jean Tassel’s Allegory of Music. In this work, a young woman plucks a lute with her gaze lifted, indifferent both to the viewer and to the sheet music hanging from the table, almost spilling beyond the frame. Her introspective posture conveys the idea of the musician absorbed in the melody, isolated from the outside world.
Tassel’s style clearly reflects the influence of tenebrism. The dark backgrounds, theatrical lighting, and narrative tension bring his work closer to Caravaggio’s models. Like him, other painters established in France—Simon Vouet, Valentin de Boulogne, and Louis Finson—were drawn to this paradigm shift and adapted it to their own artistic traditions.
Naples, Cradle of Baroque Tenebrism
Italy, and particularly Naples, was the epicenter of tenebrism in the 17th century. The Neapolitan viceroyalty, under Spanish rule, became a melting pot where the Caravaggist style took strong root and spread to other regions.
Names like José de Ribera, Giovanni Caracciolo, Carlo Sellitto, and Artemisia and Orazio Gentileschi represent this link between Caravaggio’s legacy and the evolution of Baroque painting. Their works display intense realism, figures bathed in chiaroscuro, and an expressiveness that connected with the viewer on an emotional and spiritual level.
Allegories, Humor, and Critique in Tenebrism
Tenebrism was not limited to religious or solemn scenes. It was also applied to allegorical works with a moral or even comedic undertone. An unusual example can be found in the Allegory of Folly, also up for auction, where a child, a young man, an old man, and a monkey interact in a scene full of humor. The monkey picks lice, the old man holds the child’s hand, and the young man supports the little one with a playful gesture. The work represents stupidity, understood as a lack of knowledge or control over impulses.
In Baroque painting, laughter was rare and considered a sign of a lack of intelligence. However, here the protagonist’s smile serves as an interpretive key, evoking the satire also found in Velázquez’s jesters or Murillo’s humble characters.
The Legacy of Tenebrism
Although the peak of tenebrism was concentrated in the early decades of the 17th century, its influence spread throughout Europe. The style paved the way for new forms of pictorial storytelling and laid the groundwork for later artistic developments.
Caravaggio’s followers—whether in France, Spain, or Italy—demonstrated that painting could be more than mere representation: it could be a means of direct emotion and psychological depth. Today, when we contemplate these works, we understand that tenebrism was more than just a stylistic trend: it was a turning point in the history of art.
Discover works linked to tenebrism and Baroque painting at Setdart’s upcoming Old Masters auction.
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