The Shadowed Master of Neapolitan Still Life Giuseppe Ruoppolo (1629–1693) remains one of the most captivating, yet somewhat enigmatic figures in the history of 17th-century Italian painting. A Neapolitan master deeply rooted in the traditions of his predecessors while simultaneously absorbing the burgeoning influences of a changing Europe, Ruoppolo carved out a distinctive niche within the world of still life. His canvases, often dominated by profound shadows and meticulously rendered fruits, flowers, and ceramics, evoke a sense of dramatic intimacy—a legacy largely shaped by the visceral i…