Copies after the Figurine c. 17th century

Editor: This is Salvator Rosa’s “Copies after the Figurine.” It's a captivating drawing. The figure’s pose seems both powerful and a little melancholic, if that makes sense. What do you make of this work? Curator: I’d say you’re onto something! Rosa often played with the theatrical, the dramatic. I imagine he saw this figure as a kind of archetype, a warrior perhaps, caught in a moment of reflection. It's as though he's been pulled from the grand stage and placed on a bare one. What do you think the staff in his hand symbolizes? Editor: Maybe authority or support? Like, even heroes need something to lean on? Curator: Exactly! Or maybe it’s a prop, reminding us that the whole scene is staged. Rosa invites us to question the very nature of heroism. Editor: I see it now, a powerful piece! Thanks for showing me another way to look at it. Curator: Anytime, it was fun!