Artwork
Glaucus and Scylla
Glaucus and Scylla is an unspecified painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Salvator Rosa. It is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Glaucus and Scylla, painted in 1700 by Italian Baroque artist Salvator Rosa, is a mythological scene characterized by dramatic tension and a rugged, atmospheric backdrop. The work is part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a pivotal moment from mythology involving Glaucus and Scylla, with three figures in the foreground conveying intense emotion. A woman in white (likely Scylla) sits in contemplation, a bearded man (possibly Glaucus) looks up at her in anguish, and a partially visible figure adds to the scene's mystery.
Technique & Style
Rosa employs chiaroscuro to create depth and volume, drawing the viewer into the dramatic scene. The contrast between light and dark accents the emotional intensity of the figures against a somber, cloudy sky.
History & Provenance
Created in 1700, Glaucus and Scylla exemplifies the High Baroque Italian movement. It is attributed to Salvator Rosa, a versatile artist also known for poetry, satire, and printmaking, reflecting his penchant for merging mythology with wild, natural settings.
Context
Typical of Rosa's work, the painting combines a mythological narrative with a dominant, atmospheric landscape, highlighting the Baroque emphasis on emotional depth and naturalistic settings.
Legacy
As part of Rosa's oeuvre, Glaucus and Scylla contributes to the broader legacy of Italian Baroque painting, notable for its dramatic and emotionally charged depictions of mythological themes.
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…
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Continue through works from the same source collection.
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Hagar in the Desert
Saint Sebastian
The Vision of Saint Jerome
Joseph and the wife of Potiphar
Saint Mary Magdalen
The Triumph of Truth over Envy, Plate 24
Odysseus and Nausicaa (Ulysses and Nausicaa)
Nymph and Satyr
The conclusion of peace in Angers, 10 August 1620 (sketch)