José Ribelles (1778 - 1835)

José Ribelles

José Ribelles y Helip or Felip was a Spanish painter and draftsman.

He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos, then continued his studies in Madrid. José Ribelles painted biblical subjects, portraits, and illustrated the 1819 edition of Don Quixote. He is the author of frescoes in the Royal Palace and the theaters of Caños del Peral and Principe.

José Ribelles also prepared more than a hundred drawings of Spanish costume from various regions of Spain, from which Juan Carrafa (1787-1869) then produced engravings. The engravings depict various professions, including bullfighters, gypsies, sailors, merchants, fishermen, students, porters, etc. The selection was published in Real Calcografía from 1825.