All 8 Famous Paintings In Ripley & Their Meanings Explained

Summary

• Throughout Ripley, famous paintings reflect themes in Tom’s con artist story and link to his moral struggles.
• The Italian master Caravaggio’s works are highlighted to emphasize the battle between good and evil within Ripley’s Italian scenery.
• Tom’s fascination with the painted portraits mirrors his own manipulative identity, and the strange way he views other people.

Throughout Ripley, several famous paintings feature prominently, and their deeper meanings link to the themes of the show. Ripley is based on the series of novels by Patricia Highsmith, with the first season covering the events of the first book, The Talented Mr. Ripley. The show follows a con artist named Tom Ripley as he pounces on a rare chance to travel to Italy. While in Europe, he worms his way into the life of an old acquaintance, but his scheme soon takes a morbid turn, and he is forced to weave a web of deceit to escape the law.

Ripley focuses on a few famous paintings at different times to reflect certain themes unfolding within Tom’s story. Most of these works are by the Italian master Caravaggio, who Tom comes to identify with due to his arresting artistic style and his sordid personal life. Caravaggio frequently depicted scenes from the bible about the battle between good and evil, or Jesus’ journey. There are other artists too, but Caravaggio is by far the most important, which is appropriate for Ripley‘s gorgeous Italian scenery.

8 Augustus John – Sir William Orpen (1900)

“Augustus John” can be seen as a portrait of a friendship between two men, which reflects the obsessive relationship Tom develops with Richard.

The first famous painting featured in Ripley is “Augustus John,” a portrait by Sir William Orpen. Tom sees the portrait in the window of an antiques store while he’s still in New York, and he seems drawn to it for some reason. It’s nowhere near as well-known or valuable as some of the other paintings in Ripley, but it signifies the beginning of Tom’s journey. Even at this early stage, Tom takes a keen interest in symbols of wealth. It’s an unremarkable painting, but Tom focuses on it more than anything else in the window.

Sir William Orpen was good friends with the subject of his portrait, and the two artists regularly sat for each other while honing their craft. “Augustus John” can therefore be seen as a portrait of a friendship between two men, which reflects the obsessive relationship Tom develops with Richard. Tom becomes fixated on Richard’s every move, studying his habits and mannerisms with the acute eye of an artist so that he can imitate him in Rome. Just as Orpen paints John in his own style, Tom uses what he learns about Richard to present an alternative version of him.

7 Guitar Player – Pablo Picasso (1910)

The cubist masterpiece brings Tom into a whole new world

The Picasso isn’t behind glass like the painting he saw in New York, and it isn’t adorning the walls of a grand cathedral like some of the Caravaggio paintings he sees later. It’s hanging right there in front of him, and all he has to do is reach out and take it.

When Tom first arrives at Richard and Marge’s place in Atrani, he is struck by the Picasso hanging on the wall. It’s the first thing of Richard’s which he shows any desire for, although he eventually comes to take over the man’s life. The Picasso represents the financial opportunity which Tom has fallen into. It isn’t behind glass like the painting he saw in New York, and it isn’t adorning the walls of a grand cathedral like some of the Caravaggio paintings he sees later. It’s hanging right there in front of him, and all he has to do is reach out and take it.

Tom takes the painting to Rome, but it disappears for a while as he tries to live his life as Richard Greenleaf without any disturbances. Ripley‘s shocking ending reveals that Tom had sent the painting to himself using his new pseudonym, Timothy Fanshaw. This suggests that Tom had kept the Picasso as insurance, just in case he had to abandon the identity of Richard Greenleaf and find a new source of income. Picasso’s bold, experimental cubism reflects Tom’s break from reality. He creates his own world, so that the objective truth ceases to matter.

6 The Seven Works Of Mercy – Caravaggio (1607)

Tom’s first sight of a Caravaggio blows him away

“The Seven Works of Mercy” shows acts of human kindness, but the faces of some of the figures are panicked, and their muscles are straining as if they are in battle.

“The Seven Works of Mercy” is the first Caravaggio painting that Tom sees. Richard takes him to see it in Naples, and Tom immediately falls in love with it. His eyes dart around the canvas, taking in the cacophony of action in Caravaggio’s composition. Shortly afterward, Richard tells Tom the story of Caravaggio’s violent life. Then, fittingly, Freddie Miles saunters into the picture. The piece was commissioned as an altar piece, and Caravaggio had to include all seven corporal works of mercy in traditional Catholic belief.

Ripley is in black and white, and part of the benefit of this choice is that it exaggerates Caravaggio’s supreme use of light and shadow. With all the colors stripped away, more focus is drawn to the patterns of darkness that streak across the canvas. This duality also reflects the dissonance between Tom’s charming persona and his ugly moral core. “The Seven Works of Mercy” shows acts of human kindness, but the faces of some of the figures are panicked, and their muscles are straining as if they are in battle.

5 The Calling Of St. Matthew – Caravaggio (1600)

St. Matthew’s journey reflects Tom’s new chapter

Rather than paying attention to “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew,” which depicts his death, Tom focuses solely on the moment when Matthew is summoned by Jesus.

When Tom first arrives in Rome, he takes a detour to the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi die Francesci, the French congregation. There, he sees three works by Caravaggio, but the one that speaks to him the most is “The Calling of St. Matthew”. This is just one of three paintings positioned together which tell the story of St. Matthew. Rather than paying attention to “The Martyrdom of St. Matthew,” which depicts his death, Tom focuses solely on the moment when Matthew is summoned by Jesus. This reflects where he sees himself on his journey, even if he’s ignoring the possible consequences.

“The Martyrdom of St. Matthew” is fairly ambiguous. Most critics believe that Matthew is the bearded figure, and that he is pointing to himself, because a similar looking man appears in the two other paintings. However, some believe that Matthew is the young boy with his head down at the end of the table, and that the bearded man is pointing at him. Ripley has some beautiful filming locations, and few are as striking as Contarelli Chapel. While the high ceilings highlight Tom’s burgeoning potential, the ambiguity of the paintings mirror his conflicted identity.

4 David With The Head Of Goliath – Caravaggio (1610)

A complex work about death and fate

Rather than putting himself in David’s place, Caravaggio painted himself as Goliath, foreseeing his own death with a rictus of fear stuck on his face.

Ripley continues his education in Caravaggio with “David with the Head of Goliath,” a biblical scene with a splash of blood. Caravaggio takes some interesting choices in his depiction of a famous scene, making it seem vivid and fresh. Although he’s in a moment of triumph, David’s expression is a blend of sadness and disgust, as if he pities the giant. This could reflect Tom’s emotions. Ripley features some brutal deaths, but Tom himself isn’t exactly a natural-born killer. He’s an opportunist whose main concern is self-preservation.

Rather than putting himself in David’s place, Caravaggio painted himself as Goliath, foreseeing his own death with a rictus of fear stuck on his face. Some scholars have interpreted David as a younger version of Caravaggio, suggesting that his past actions have doomed him to death. This is surprisingly prescient, considering that Caravaggio was later killed as revenge for Ranuccio Tomassoni’s murder. Tom’s interest in the painting, coupled with the way he identifies with Caravaggio, suggests that he may eventually face the consequences of his crimes.

3 Nativity With St. Francis And St. Lawrence – Caravaggio (1609)

Tom’s rebirth is intrinsically linked to criminality and mystery

The painting could symbolize Tom’s rebirth, not as Richard Greenleaf, but as a new version of Tom Ripley, or even as Richard Fanshaw.

While Tom visits Palermo in Sicily, he takes a detour to see another painting by Caravaggio. Even though he’s in Palermo to put some distance between him and Inspector Ravini, he still takes the opportunity to continue his artistic education. “Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence” is another biblical scene, featuring an altered version of the birth of Jesus. The painting could symbolize Tom’s rebirth, not as Richard Greenleaf, but as a new version of Tom Ripley, or even as Richard Fanshaw.

Although some of the paintings in Ripley are the real deal, because the show was filmed on location in Italy, “Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence” is just a replica. This is because the real painting was stolen in 1969, a few years after the timeline of Ripley concludes. The painting has never been recovered, although many people believe the Sicilian Mafia were responsible. This added layer underlines Tom’s fraudulent new life. Just as the painting will soon be stolen and gone forever, Tom is also set to disappear and start a new life.

2 The Crucifixion of St. Peter – Caravaggio (1601)

The season finale open with a portrait of death

Ripley
cuts between the two men, Tom and Caravaggio, implying that Tom has finally morphed into the murderous artist.

Throughout the show, Tom identifies more and more with Caravaggio by admiring and learning about his works. Episode 8 starts back in the 17th century, with Caravaggio enjoying a glass of red wine after murdering Ranuccio Tomassoni. This scene shares a direct connection with Tom sipping wine in his Rome apartment after disposing of Freddie’s body. Ripley cuts between the two men, Tom and Caravaggio, implying that Tom has finally morphed into the murderous artist. Tom’s art isn’t painting, however, he’s a con artist whose masterpiece is getting away with two murders, and having Mr. Greenleaf hand him Richard’s ring.

“The Crucifixion of St. Peter” shows St. Peter as he is being killed by the Romans. He believes that it would be blasphemy to mimic his lord Jesus, so he insists on having his cross upside-down. In Ripley‘s analogy, St. Peter could either be a grim portent of Tom’s fate, brutally murdered by the state, or he could represent Tom’s victims, innocent people who were unjustly punished in the harshest possible way. Starting the final episode with an image of death immediately cranks up the tension for Ripley‘s big finale.

1 Madonna And Child With St. Anne – Caravaggio (1606)

Good triumphs over evil, but Tom’s story suggests otherwise

Tom is the serpent in this image, but he ultimately avoids any consequences for his actions. He escapes with a new British passport and a Picasso just as Inspector Ravini discovers his deceit.

Ripley‘s final episode revolves around Tom’s desperate attempts to evade capture. He satisfies Inspector Ravini’s curiosity, mollifies Mr. Greenleaf, and gets Marge out of the picture without having to add her to his list of victims. The painting which symbolizes the struggle between good and evil in the season finale is “Madonna and Child with St. Anne,” another work by Caravaggio. The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as he steps on a serpent, as if she is guiding him to triumph over evil. St. Anne is Mary’s mother.

Tom is the serpent in this image, but he ultimately avoids any consequences for his actions. He escapes with a new British passport and a Picasso just as Inspector Ravini discovers his deceit. Caravaggio’s paintings in Ripley are all about grand biblical tales of epic moral struggles for the fate of the human soul. Tom shows that evil can claim victory. This sets up an exciting season 2 of Ripley, although it’s uncertain if the show will continue.