Plato and his Disciples c. 17th century

Editor: This is Salvator Rosa’s "Plato and his Disciples." The figures are closely packed, set against a backdrop of dense foliage. The scene feels intimate. What do you make of it? Curator: It strikes me as a romanticized vision of intellectual life. Look at the theatrical gestures and the wildness of the landscape. It is almost as if Rosa equates philosophical inquiry with untamed nature itself. He seems to be suggesting that true wisdom lies in embracing the unpredictable and challenging. Editor: So, you’re saying the setting is not just decorative? Curator: Precisely! It's an active participant. Perhaps it's even a metaphor for the messy, tangled process of thinking. What do you think that little detail drawn on the bottom right is? Editor: It seems to be a diagram of sorts, perhaps illustrating the lesson imparted. I hadn't noticed it before. Curator: See? There's always something new to discover.