Landscape with Hermit

Rosa’s dramatic, rocky landscapes were inspired by the mountain scenery of Italy. The jagged chasm here overwhelms the tiny, lone figure. It creates a sense of fear and awe, emphasising the power of nature over humankind. Rosa’s images were an alternative to the ideal, classical landscapes popular in the 17th century. His work was a major influence on 18th-century British landscape painters, including Turner. An x-ray of this work reveals an abandoned history painting underneath the surface.