Curatorial Narrative The Murder of the Ribbings by Ernst Josephson is a masterful exemplar of Baroque figural painting, rendered in 1874 with an unwavering commitment to historical precedent. The artist’s technical acumen is evident in his bold employment of impasto, as thick layers of paint coalesce to create a tactile, almost sculptural surface that imbues the subject matter with a heightened sense of presence and drama. The somber palette, dominated by dark blues and blacks, muted reds, and warm yellows from the light source, serves to intensify the emotional impact of the composition, conjuring an atmosphere of foreboding and unease.As “The Murder of the Ribbings” is scaled up to 44×57, its chromatic structure takes on a newly dynamic character. The dark blues and blacks appear to recede into the background, while the muted reds and warm yellows advance with greater prominence, casting an eerie glow across the space. The impasto