Salvator Rosa

The work of Salvator Rosa encompasses landscape, history painting, allegory, portraiture and printmaking. In his landscapes, ruins and brigands make up scenes described by sources as unsettling or melancholic. Painting does not exhaust his activities: he also practises poetry and theatre, and writes satires.

His training is associated with several artists. Sources mention his maternal uncle, the painter Paolo Greco, and, with some reservation, his brother-in-law Francesco Francanzano; Aniello Falcone and Jusepe de Ribera are also cited among the artists connected with his training. Rosa stayed in Rome from 1634 to 1636, then returned there in 1638–1639 under the protection of Cardinal Francesco Maria Brancaccio. For the cardinal, he painted The Incredulity of Saint Thomas in 1639, described as his first and one of his few altarpieces. After returning to Naples in 1646, he remained there until 1649 according to one source; after a stay in Venice, he returned to Rome that year, where he remained until the end of his life.

Saul and the Witch of Endor, also known as The Shadow of Samuel Appearing to Saul, is dated 1668 and held at the Louvre. One source presents it as possibly Rosa’s last work.

Works recorded at auction

Lempertz · Lot 1540

Coastal landscape

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Küstenlandschaft
Öl auf Leinwand

Auction date : 2022-11-19

Published result : 138600 EUR

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : 90000

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Lempertz · Lot 1657

Figurenstudie mit Hund

Pencil

Original catalogue wording

Figurenstudie mit Hund
Bleistift

Auction date : 2022-11-19

Published result : 1638 EUR

Including buyer’s premium

Estimate : 1500

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Dobiaschofsky · Lot 345

Joseph deutet die Träume der Gefangenen.

Pen in brown

Original catalogue wording

Joseph deutet die Träume der Gefangenen.
Feder in Braun

Catalogue period : 2019-05-10

Published result : 3600 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2000

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Schuler · Lot 7333

Nachfolger Wäscherinnen

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Nachfolger Wäscherinnen
Öl auf Leinwand

Catalogue period : 2018-12-10

Published result : 600 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 500–700

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References excluded from statistics: attributions and special lots

These references are shown separately because of their attribution or lot composition. Each record states the reason.

Zofingen · Lot 2694

Dans le goût de Rosa Salvator — Bärtiger Mann mit Turban

Red chalk on paper.

Original catalogue wording

Dans le goût de Rosa Salvator — Bärtiger Mann mit Turban
Rötel auf Papier
In der Art

Catalogue period : 2023-11-25

In the manner of

Published result : 200 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 200

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Piguet

D’après Salvator Rosa — Jason et le dragon

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

D’après Salvator Rosa — Jason et le dragon
huile sur toile
d'après

Catalogue period : 2020-06-19 — 2020-06-30

After

Published result : 950 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 600–800

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Dobiaschofsky · Lot 325

Attribué à SALVATOR ROSA — Battaglia.

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Attribué à SALVATOR ROSA — Battaglia.
Öl auf Leinwand
Zugeschrieben

Catalogue period : 2018-05-04

Attributed

Published result : 3800 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 7500

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Dobiaschofsky · Lot 302

École de SALVATOR ROSA — Küstenpartie mit Soldaten.

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

École de SALVATOR ROSA — Küstenpartie mit Soldaten.
Öl auf Leinwand
Schule

Catalogue period : 2013-11-08

School

Published result : 1600 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2800

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