Plate 1: a peasant checking the hoof of his mule by a stream, from "Landscapes in the manner of Salvator Rosa" (Die Landschaften in Sal. Rosa's)

Art Historical Context

In this evocative etching, titled *Plate 1: a checking the hoof of his by a stream*, from the series *Landscapes the manner of Salvator*, we witness a humble rural moment captured with dramatic flair. A peasant tends to his mule beside a babbling stream, evoking rugged, untamed beauty of nature that defined 17th-century Italian artist Salvator Rosa's influential Baroque landscapes. Created around 1700–25 by German engraver Franz Joachim Be, with publication by Jeremias Wolff, this print pays homage to Rosa's stormy, romantic style, blending everyday peasant life with wild, atmospheric scenery. As a second state of four in the etching process, this work showcases the meticulous technique of etching—where acid bites into a metal plate to create fine lines—allowing for subtle tonal variations across editions. Measuring about 9½ × 6¼ inches on the sheet, its compact size made it ideal for collectors' albums, reflecting the era's booming market for reproductive prints that democratized access to prestigious artistic motifs. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Grace M. Pugh in 1985, this piece highlights the enduring appeal of "Rosa-esque" landscapes in early 18th-century Europe, bridging Italian Baroque drama with Northern European precision. A delightful glimpse into how artists like Beich kept Rosa's wild spirit alive for new generations.