Brutus Exhorting the Romans after the Death of Lucretia
c. 1790
Medium
Brush and brown and black ink washes, over pen and black ink and traces of black chalk, with opaque white paint, on cut and pieced cream laid paper
Dimensions
Sight: 53.2 × 77.4 cm (21 × 30 1/2 in.)
Classification
brush and ink
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
241734
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In ancient Roman legend, during the war between Rome and the city of Alba Longa, two groups of three brothers were chosen to fight to the death for each side. The Horatii family fought for the Romans, the Curiatii for the Albans. The Horatii defeated the Curiatii, although only one of the Horatii survived. Upon discovering that his sister Camilla was secretly betrothed to one of the dead Curiatii, the surviving brother angrily killed her for placing personal love above patriotism. Garnier’s amb...