Head of a bearded man wearing a turban 1650s

Salvator Rosa made this drawing of a bearded man wearing a turban, likely in Italy, during the 17th century, using chalk and charcoal. Rosa was known for his dramatic landscapes and history paintings, and this head study reflects his interest in capturing intense human emotion. The turban itself evokes the Orient, a common source of fascination and fantasy in European art of this period. But what does it mean to depict a European model in such garb? We might consider the complex history of trade and conflict between Europe and the Ottoman Empire. Artists like Rosa often used such exoticizing details to add drama and intrigue to their work, but also potentially reinforced existing stereotypes. As historians, we can look to period costume books, travel accounts, and political tracts to better understand the cultural meanings embedded in this image. Art doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's always shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.