Born June 20 or July 21, 1615, in Arenel-la, Campania; died Mar. 15, 1673, in Rome. Italian painter, engraver, and poet.
Rosa worked in Naples, Florence, and Rome. His art, which contained a distinctive romantic protest against existing social norms, opposed the academic direction of the Italian baroque. Many of his paintings and etchings are devoted to religious and mythological themes, for example, Astraea Bids Farewell to the Peasants (Historical Museum of Art, Vienna). Particularly well known are Rosa’s scenes of cavalry skirmishes and views of wild coastal regions. The artist’s works are distinguished by sharp contrasts of light and shadow. Rosa employed free brush-strokes and favored a gloomy leaden brown palette.
In his poetry, which included seven satires written in terza rima, Rosa used complex allegories and whimsically dramatic images, which caustically ridiculed contemporary trends in Italian literature and castigated the vices of the ruling classes. In the satire War the author sympathetically described the anti-feudal uprising in Naples of the urban lower classes led by Ma-saniello.