Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms thumbnail 1
Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms thumbnail 2
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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case IONIDES, Shelf 6, Box A

Study of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms

Drawing
ca. 1614
Artist/Maker
Filippo Napoletano
Place of origin
Naples

Previously attributed to an imitator of Salvator Rosa, well known for his little studies of soldiers commonly called 'figurine', this drawing has been re-attributed by Marco Chiarini in 2010 to the Neapolitan painter Filippo Napoletano. According to Marco Chiarini, this figure is reminiscent of a similar figure in the background of the recently discovered Martyr of St Catherine (Private collection, oil on slate, 26.6 x 34 cm). Based on stylistic grounds, the execution of the painting is likely to date from Napoletano's first travel to Rome, shortly after 1614. The identification of Filippo Napoletano as the author of this drawing makes an important addition to the artist's corpus of works, especially at such an early date when his style was still evolving.


Object details

Category
Drawings
Object type
Drawing
TitleStudy of a soldier in Roman dress with uplifted arms
Materials and techniques
Red chalk on paper
Red Chalk
Drawing
Brief description
Drawing, Filippo Napoletano, A soldier with uplifted arms, Neapolitan school, ca. 1614
Physical description
Red chalk drawing of a soldier in Roman dress holding his arms up.
Dimensions
  • Height: 155mm
  • Width: 108mm
Marks and inscriptions
"Salvatore Rosa" (Inscribed on the verso of the drawing)
Summary
Previously attributed to an imitator of Salvator Rosa, well known for his little studies of soldiers commonly called 'figurine', this drawing has been re-attributed by Marco Chiarini in 2010 to the Neapolitan painter Filippo Napoletano. According to Marco Chiarini, this figure is reminiscent of a similar figure in the background of the recently discovered Martyr of St Catherine (Private collection, oil on slate, 26.6 x 34 cm). Based on stylistic grounds, the execution of the painting is likely to date from Napoletano's first travel to Rome, shortly after 1614. The identification of Filippo Napoletano as the author of this drawing makes an important addition to the artist's corpus of works, especially at such an early date when his style was still evolving.
Bibliographic references
  • Board of Education, South Kensington, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Catalogue of the Constantine Alexander Ionides Collection, London, 1904, p.13
  • Mahoney, M., The drawings of Salvator Rosa. 2 vols. London and New York, 1977, p.618
  • Marco Chiarini, 'Addenda a Filippo Napoletano: tra Napoli and Roma' in Bollettino d'Arte, No. 8, Oct.-Dec. 2010 (Series VII), pp. 131-134, fig. 3, p. 133.
  • Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings. Volume II. 17th-18th century, London, 1979, p. 83. The following is the full text of the entry. 805 Study of a soldier in Roman dress holding his arms up Inscribed on the back in ink 'Salvator Rosa' Red chalk 6 1/8 x 4 1/4 (155 x 108) CAI.373 PROVENANCE Ionides Bequest 1901 (Lugt 488) LITERATURE Ionides Catalogue, p. 13 (as by Rosa); Mahoney, p. 618 (not by Rosa)
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
CAI.373

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O517303/study-of-a-soldier-in-drawing-filippo-napoletano/
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