Giovan Battista Ruoppolo

Who was Giovan Battista Ruoppolo?

Giovan Battista Ruoppolo was a Neapolitan painter from the Baroque era, notable for painting still-lifes. He was a disciple of Paolo Porpora, a contemporary of Salvatore Rosa. Additional Porpora pupils who formed a school of still-life painters in Naples were Giovan Battista, Giuseppe Recco, and Ruoppolo's brother of Giuseppe Ruoppolo. In addition, he influenced Andrea Belvedere and Giacomo Nani. The initials of Ruoppolo match those of the younger Recco, suggesting some canvas attributions are likely in error. The dark backgrounds to his still life call to memory Caravaggio's bowl of fruit and flowers. Another contemporary painter, though trained in Rome, of still lifes in Italy was Giovanna Garzoni.