Art Institute of Chicago

Alexander in the Studio of Apelles

Salvator Rosa

Date

1662

Medium

Etching and drypoint on ivory laid paper

Culture

Italy

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Salvator Rosa most likely intended this large print as a companion to his The Genius of Salvator Rosa (2002.463). It shows a story from the Roman author Pliny of how Alexander the Great was humbled and mocked by the famous Greek painter Apelles. As the inscription describes, in the studio Alexander made many uninformed comments, and Apelles advised him to be silent, saying that the boys engaged in grinding colors were laughing at him. Like Apelles, Rosa had no qualms about declaring his superiority over his patrons. This anecdote was therefore a natural choice for the confident and headstrong Rosa, who wished to spread his reputation as a rebellious artist.

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