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Style of Salvator Rosa, 'A Coastal Scene', probably 18th century

About the work

This picture, inspired by the landscapes of Salvator Rosa, was probably painted by an Italian artist working during the eighteenth century. A rock in the foreground to the right of the figures bears a prominent ‘SR’ monogram – a ruse to encourage potential buyers to believe that the painting was a genuine Rosa.

We look down a gentle incline towards a calm lake. The buildings dotted around it are made small by the steeply sloped mountain that towers above them, emphasising man’s fragility in the face of nature’s grandeur and power. In the foreground peasants rest and cattle gather at the water’s edge.

The scene is filled with a golden Italianate light, though the landscape itself is almost certainly fictitious. The broken and silhouetted branches growing out of the rocky outcrop on the left are typical of Rosa’s landscapes, and were likely included to emulate his style.

Key facts

Full title
A Coastal Scene
Artist
Style of Salvator Rosa
Artist dates
1615 - 1673
Date made
probably 18th century
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
88.9 × 118.8 cm
Inscription summary
Signed
Acquisition credit
Wynn Ellis Bequest, 1876
Inventory number
NG935
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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