Who painted Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms?

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms was painted by Filippo Napoletano in 1614.

Where can I see Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms?

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms?

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms

Filippo Napoletano , 1614

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms is a drawing by the Baroque artist Filippo Napoletano. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The drawing depicts a Roman‑clad soldier with his arms raised, rendered in a quick, gestural style typical of preparatory studies.

About this work

Overview

The drawing depicts a Roman‑clad soldier with his arms raised, rendered in a quick, gestural style typical of preparatory studies. Executed in the early seventeenth century, it is now attributed to the Neapolitan artist Filippo Napoletano, marking one of the earliest known works by him.

Subject & Meaning

The figure represents a generic Roman soldier, a motif frequently employed by artists to explore anatomy, movement, and costume. The uplifted arms convey a sense of dynamic tension, suggesting a moment of action or proclamation within an imagined historical scene.

Technique & Style

Rendered with fluid lines and minimal shading, the drawing reflects a study-like immediacy. Its handling of form and drapery aligns with Napoletano’s early Roman period, showing influences from contemporaneous Baroque draftsmen while retaining a personal, exploratory quality.

History & Provenance

Originally linked to a follower of Salvator Rosa, the work was re‑attributed to Filippo Napoletano in 2010 by scholar Marco Chiarini. The reassignment was based on stylistic parallels with a soldier figure in the recently identified oil on slate, "Martyr of St Catherine," held in a private collection.

Context

The drawing likely dates to Napoletano’s first stay in Rome, shortly after his arrival in 1614. This period was formative for the artist, who was absorbing the city’s artistic currents and experimenting with compositional studies that would inform his later paintings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Filippo Napoletano

Filippo Napoletano, whose real name was Filippo Teodoro di Liagno was an Italian artist, with a varied output, mainly landscape and genre scenes and also drawings or etchings of diverse, often particular, items such as…