Diogenes and Alexander

Diogenes, Greek philosopher of the 4th century B.C., founded Cynicism, which embraced “natural need” and its public expression, but rejected everything contrary and its conventions, including material wealth. The Roman satirist Juvenal invented an encounter between Diogenes, living in rags in a tub, and Alexander, who mused, “how much more fortunate he was who would desire nothing.” Recasting his own painting, Rosa presented the scene, and the full passage from Juvenal, in one of his large, classicizing etchings. The Collection includes three other exceptionally fine impressions of major plates by Rosa.