Diogenes and Alexander 1662

Salvator Rosa's etching *Diogenes and Alexander* (1662) depicts the famous encounter between the Cynic philosopher Diogenes and the Macedonian King Alexander the Great. Diogenes is shown seated, a stoic figure, rejecting Alexander's offer of riches and power with a simple gesture. Rosa, known for his dramatic landscapes and figures, captures the moment with a dynamic composition and heightened contrast. This artwork, housed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, offers a visual commentary on the tension between worldly ambition and the pursuit of wisdom.