Salvator Rosa among the Brigands

Art Historical Context

This evocative print, titled *Salvator Rosa among the Brigands*, captures a dramatic encounter between the 17th-century Italian artist and a group of outlaws. Created after 1844 through etching and aquatint on chine collé, the work employs delicate linework combined with tonal washes to produce rich contrasts and atmospheric depth. These techniques, favored in 19th-century printmaking, allowed artists to translate painterly effects into reproducible images, making dramatic scenes accessible to wider audiences. The composition references Salvator Rosa’s own adventurous reputation and his fascination with bandit subjects, reimagined here by a collaborative team that included Adrien Guignet, Adolphe Pierre Riffaut, and Delamain. Produced well after Rosa’s lifetime, the print reflects 19th-century romantic interest in the artist as a rebellious figure who embraced the wild landscapes and outlaw tales of southern Italy. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum’s Drawings and Prints collection, this sheet measuring roughly 11 13/16 by 16 3/4 inches offers viewers a window into both Rosa’s mythic persona and the technical artistry of French printmakers who kept his spirit alive for new generations.

About the Artist

Adrien Guignet|Adolphe Pierre Riffaut|Delamain|Salvator Rosa (French|French|French|Italian) · 1816 |1821 |1800 |1615 –1854 |1859 |1900 |1673

French, Annecy 1816–1854 Paris|French, Paris 1821–1859 Charenton| |Italian, Arenella (Naples) 1615–1673 Rome