Milo of Crotona 1615 - 1673

Salvator Rosa’s pen and brown ink drawing presents the gruesome death of Milo of Crotona. Rosa was an Italian Baroque painter, known for his unconventional and rebellious nature, and penchant for drama which informs this piece. Milo, a celebrated ancient Greek wrestler, renowned for his unparalleled strength, met a tragic end as an old man when he attempted to tear a tree apart, only to have his hands trapped, becoming prey for wild animals. Rosa’s intense rendering captures Milo’s vulnerability. The expressive lines create a visceral sense of his struggle and pain. Rosa chooses to depict the demise of a hypermasculine symbol. There is an emotional tension between the admiration for Milo’s strength and the pity for his hubris, aging, and ultimate helplessness. This artwork is a potent reminder of mortality and the transient nature of human strength.