The Stop

Workshop of Salvator Rosa (Naples, 1615 - Rome, 1673)

The stop

Oil on canvas, cm 43 x 34

With frame cm 56,5 x 47,5

Salvator Rosa was a prolific Baroque painter, he studied in Naples with Fracanzano, Ribera and Falcone, painting mainly battles, landscapes and genre scenes (Salvator Rosa, Battaglia, Galleria Palazzo Pitti, Florence, 96 x 146 cm). In 1635 he moved to Rome, protected by Cardinal Brancacci, where he met the bamboccianti and the work of Peter van Laer and Cerquozzi, as shown by some paintings. In the years 1639-1640 there was a change in classicist sense of his style, influenced by Claudde Lorrain, Nicolas Poussin and Pietro Testa, evident in the concept of landscape, which is however reconciled with the sensitivity of the artist for the rendering of the picturesque aspects of nature (Salvator Rosa, Painting, Ducal Palace of Sassuolo, cm 143,5 x 176). The lively artist was nicknamed 'Salvator of the battles' for the numerous pictorial representations of grandiose and scenic battles but also painted, during his stay in Florence, works with an esoteric and magical tone such as Witches and spells (1646, National Gallery) and allegorical and philosophical themes. His fame is mainly linked to the representation of landscapes, characterized by a harsh and wild nature and the predilection for dark tones and luministic contrasts, as well can be seen from this canvas, the work of a student close to the master. Similarities are found in the rendering of nature, detailed and luminous, as in Landscape with figures (Colnaghi). The dark and mysterious atmospheres, resulting from the colors used, are a characteristic element of the painting of Salvator Rosa and his workshop. The Neapolitan was also very active in Florence and Rome, where he was also appreciated as an engraver. Some of his works put up for auction have reached important quotations, such as Paesaggio boschivo (Finarte, 10.11.2015) and Due pescatori tra paesaggio roccioso(Dorotheum, 25.04.2017)