The artwork, titled “Self-portrait,” was expertly crafted by the artist Salvator Rosa in the year 1647 and belongs to the Baroque art movement. The genre of this piece is a self-portrait, exemplifying the artist’s own visage and introspection.
In the artwork, Salvator Rosa has rendered himself with a contemplative expression, characteristic of Baroque art with its dramatic intensity and detailed realism. He is portrayed with long flowing hair and a wreath of dark leaves adorning his head, indicative of an allegorical or philosophical figure. Rosa’s hands hold a skull, commonly symbolizing mortality and the transience of life, while he appears to inscribe or contemplate upon it with a quill. The setting is dimly lit, further enhancing the solemn and reflective mood of the piece. Books and a tattered manuscript rest on the table, representative of knowledge and scholarly pursuits. The overall composition emphasizes an air of intellectual meditation, typical of self-portraits that delve into the deeper aspects of the human condition.
