Paper
Name Class Date

Salvator Rosa, Two men braced, pulling a rope. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Salvator Rosa originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/salvator-rosa/
Artist’s dates
1615 – 1673
Movement
Baroque Dramatic, theatrical pictures using deep shadow and strong diagonals to pull you into the action.

In context

Two men braced, pulling a rope — Salvator Rosa

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1610
  2. 1620
  3. 1630
  4. 1640
  5. 1650
  6. 1660
  7. 1670

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 58 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Salvator Rosa (1615–1673) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1650 Main working years: 1650–1662 Late works: from 1662

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Quinacridone Magenta #6e5b45

    Catalogued palette

    • #6E5B45
    • #A39576
    • #8C7B5C
    • #D7C59C

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Quinacridone Magenta
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Salvator Rosa over the last twelve months — 12 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 60.9%
    2. 2 United States of America 13.0%
    3. 3 Singapore 7.6%
    4. 4 France 4.3%
    5. 5 Brazil 3.3%
    6. 6 Hong Kong 3.3%
    7. 7 Finland 2.2%
    8. 8 Belgium 1.1%
    9. 9 Italy 1.1%
    10. 10 Mexico 1.1%
    11. · 2 other countries 2.1%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Salvator Rosa

    1. 1 Scene from Greek history: The deaf-mute son of King Croesus prevents the Persians from killing his father, 1663 4.0%
    2. 2 Studies for the Death of Empedokles, 1666 4.0%
    3. 3 The Prodigal Son, 1651 4.0%
    4. 4 Witches' Sabbath 4.0%
    5. 5 Pythagoras Emerging from the Underworld, 1662 4.0%
    6. 6 The Shade of Samuel Appears to Saul, 1668 3.0%
    7. 7 Pythagoras and the Fisherman, 1662 3.0%
    8. 8 Anchorites Tempted by Demons, 1660 3.0%
    9. 9 Man holding a book in a timber covered with dead trunks 3.0%
    10. 10 The Baptism of the Eunuch, 1660 2.0%
    11. 11 Human Fragility 2.0%
    12. 12 Cavalieri in Marcia, 1673 2.0%
    13. 13 Five Figures in Fantastic Costumes with Two Dogs 2.0%
    14. 14 Astraea Leaves The Earth, 1665 2.0%
    15. 15 Wooded Landscape, 1650 2.0%
    16. 16 Ceres and Phytalus, 1662 2.0%
    17. 17 Warrior 2.0%
    18. 18 Two men braced, pulling a rope this painting 2.0%
    19. 19 Democritus in Meditation 2.0%
    20. 20 The Death of Marcus Regulus Atilius 2.0%

    Together these works take 54.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 186 works by this artist, of which 62 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 18 of them, with 2.0% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Salvator Rosa

    Born in Arenella, Italy

    **early life and training**

    salvator rosa, an italian baroque painter, poet, and printmaker, was born in arenella, naples, on either june 20 or july 21, 1615. his mother, giulia greca rosa, was a member of one of the greek families of sicily. despite his father's wishes for him to become a lawyer or priest, salvator showed a preference for the arts from an early age.

    **artistic career**

    salvator rosa's artistic career was marked by his unorthodox and extravagant style, which set him apart from his contemporaries. he was active in naples, rome, and florence, and his work was influenced by the naturalism of ribera and the classicism of poussin. however, he refused to be tied down by any particular style or movement.

    pythagoras emerging from the underworld (kimbell art museum, fort worth, united states), one of his most famous works, showcases his unique blend of philosophical and artistic themes.

    his the baptism of the eunuch (chrysler museum of art, norfolk, united states) demonstrates his ability to infuse high drama into even minor bible stories.

    **influences and legacy**

    salvator rosa's work had a significant impact on the development of baroque art. his influence can be seen in the works of later artists, such as luca giordano, who continued to push the boundaries of artistic expression. *important links:* salvator rosa's profile on AllPaintingsStore wikipedia: salvator rosa pythagoras emerging from the underworld on AllPaintingsStore

    **conclusion**

    salvator rosa's life and work continue to fascinate art lovers and historians alike. his unorthodox style and perpetual rebellion against the norms of his time have cemented his place in the annals of baroque art. as a painter, poet, and printmaker, he remains an enigmatic figure, and his work continues to inspire new generations of artists and art enthusiasts. kimbell art museum, chrysler museum of art (museum names)

    Where to read more

    • The artist Salvator Rosa originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/salvator-rosa/
    • Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Two men braced, pulling a rope

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Rosa, Salvator. Two men braced, pulling a rope. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/
    APA
    Rosa, Salvator (n.d.). Two men braced, pulling a rope [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/
    Chicago
    Salvator Rosa. Two men braced, pulling a rope. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/
    Harvard
    Rosa, Salvator (n.d.) Two men braced, pulling a rope. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/salvator-rosa-two-men-braced-pulling-a-rope-8LT6DF-en/

    Look closely

    Two men braced, pulling a rope — Salvator Rosa

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 2 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: men. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at The Shade of Samuel Appears to Saul (1668), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Can I preview "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa before ordering?

    To preview a reproduction of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa, open the artwork's Preview page.

    What style does "Two men braced, pulling a rope" belong to?

    "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa belongs to the Baroque movement. This movement provides the stylistic context of the work.

    Can I use augmented reality to see "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa in my room?

    "Two men braced, pulling a rope" has an augmented reality preview: the artwork's AR Preview page shows it in your own space on a compatible device.

    Where can I buy a print of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa?

    To get a print of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa, simply order it on this page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.

    What is the dominant hue of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa?

    An ochre to sepia hue runs through "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa.

    Do the colors of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" appear strong or soft?

    "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa shows a balanced color intensity.

    How is the palette of "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa described?

    "Two men braced, pulling a rope" by Salvator Rosa uses an earthy color palette. The palette summarizes the work's overall color character.

    Which artist and which style stand behind "Two men braced, pulling a rope"?

    Salvator Rosa created "Two men braced, pulling a rope" within the Baroque movement.