Studies for Standing and Seated Figures 1634 - 1645

Salvator Rosa made these pen and brown ink studies of standing and seated figures in seventeenth-century Italy. Rosa was based in Naples, but his work was popular with collectors throughout Europe. Though these figures are studies, likely for a larger painting, they tell us much about the culture of the time. Rosa was known for his interest in the lives of ordinary people. Here, we see what appear to be peasants, monks, and soldiers, perhaps encountered in the countryside. They offer us a glimpse into the clothing, postures, and daily lives of a range of people. Rosa may have been influenced by the writings of social critics of the time, who were beginning to question the rigid social hierarchy. Historians consult a wide range of sources, including diaries, letters, and economic records to help us better understand the lives and social conditions depicted in works of art like this.