Sheet of Satirical Studies (Amorini Riding Phalli)
Medium
Pen and brown ink, wash, and red chalk
Dimensions
{"sheet":{"height":0.14,"width":0.367}}
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle
Accession Number
2009.154
Tags
male
About this artwork
This outrageous and comical sheet stands out as one of the few existing examples of Rosa's representation of bawdy material. While Rosa was not interested in lewd imagery for vulgarity's sake, he certainly enjoyed intellectual jokes that advertised his erudite knowledge. The grotesque face at the right, and the cupids that ride the almost-elephantine phalli at center reference Classical and Renaissance motifs. Heads composed of objects-particularly the famous Testa di Cazzi ("head of penises")-w...