Artwork
A Standing Man Leaning on a Stick
A Standing Man Leaning on a Stick is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Salvator Rosa. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Standing Man Leaning on a Stick is a drawing by Salvator Rosa, executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper, dating to around 1662.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a man standing in a sideways pose, leaning on a stick with one hand on his hip, conveyed through loose, clinging attire. The figure's casual, relaxed stance suggests a study of everyday posture rather than a formal portrait.
Technique & Style
Rosa employed quick, rough lines and selective shading to capture fabric folds and shadows, characteristic of his expressive and atmospheric handling of line and tone. The hasty strokes imply a rapid execution, possibly as a preparatory study.
History & Provenance
Created during the Italian Baroque period, this work is part of Rosa's diverse output as a painter, printmaker, poet, and performer, active in Naples, Rome, and Florence. The drawing's provenance is not detailed here, but its style aligns with Rosa's known body of figure studies.
Context
This drawing reflects Rosa's versatility across media and genres, from dramatic landscapes to figure studies, contributing to his multifaceted reputation in 17th-century Italy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Salvator Rosa (1615 – 15 March 1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticised landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into…
