Salvator Rosa, from "Fifteen Etchings Dedicated to Sir Joshua Reynolds" 1778

This etching, “Salvator Rosa,” is from a series of 15 etchings by John Hamilton Mortimer dedicated to the artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. The work depicts the Italian painter Salvator Rosa in a contemplative pose, seated among rocks, his left hand on his chest, and his right hand resting on a large open book. The scene is imbued with the atmosphere of Romanticism, a style that emerged in the 18th century, highlighting themes of individualism and emotion. The artist's dramatic use of light and shadow, along with the detailed depiction of the figure and landscape, conveys Rosa's introspective and melancholic nature, characteristics that were highly admired in the 18th century.