Bandits on a Rocky Coast
Rosa became known for his distinctive, theatrically dressed figures in the guise of bandits or soldiers set within rugged, menacing landscapes like the one above this doorway. The character of the landscape highlighted the potential ferocity of his protagonists, suggesting a narrative tension even without any identifiable story. Many of the figures in this painting relate to Rosa’s etchings that disseminated his influence across Europe.
Artwork Details
- Title: Bandits on a Rocky Coast
- Artist: Salvator Rosa (Italian, Arenella (Naples) 1615–1673 Rome)
- Date: 1655–60
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 29 1/2 x 39 3/8 in. (74.9 x 100 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Charles B. Curtis Fund, 1934
- Object Number: 34.137
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
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