1662
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Crucifixion of Polycrates is a 1662 ink by Salvator Rosa, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a chaotic group of people under a dark, stormy sky. Some are on their knees, others stand with arms raised, while a few hold spears or lean on staffs. In the center, a figure is tied to a cross, surrounded by a frenzied crowd. Trees and jagged rocks fill the background, making the scene feel wild and dramatic. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create tension. The rough texture of the paper and the way light cuts through the chaos makes it feel urgent. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how this technique works.
Salvator Rosa (1615 – 15 March 1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticised landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into the early 19th century.
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