Diogenes and Alexander

Although famous and influential as a painter of haunting, rugged landscapes which make him regarded as a 'Romantic' nearly 200 years before his time, Salvator Rosa was also a significant etcher. This is an ambitious subject for an etching and would be equally appropriate as a larger 'historical genre' painting. Like its 'other half', Alexander and Apelles, also in Te Papa's collection (1965-0001-23), it relates to episodes in the life of Alexander the Great.

The story depicted is a famous one, and has been recounted by the Roman poet Juvenal (alluded to in the inscription at the bottom of the plate) and Plutarch. The young Alexander and the pioneering cynic philosopher Diogenes of Sinope were both in Corinth at the same time, 336 BCE. Plutrach continues: 'since that philosopher took not the slightest notice of Alexander, and continued to enjoy his leisure in the suburb Craneion, Alexander went in person to see him; and he found him lying in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. And when that monarch addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, "Yes," said Diogenes, "stand a little out of my sun." It is said that Alexander was so struck by this, and admired so much the haughtiness and grandeur of the man who had nothing but scorn for him, that he said to his followers, who were laughing and jesting about the philosopher as they went away, "But truly, if I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

Diogenes's words have been rendered more idiomatically as 'Get out of my light!' Rosa seizes this moment, and the change in expression in Alexander's attendants from amused mockery to aghast consternation at the philospher's brilliant impertinence.

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_and_Alexander

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvator_Rosa

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art    June 2017