The Departure of Marcus Attilius Regulus for Carthage
1785/86
Medium
Pen and black ink and brush and black ink wash and opaque white watercolor with black chalk and touches of brown watercolor on blue laid paper
Dimensions
Sight: 31 × 40.9 cm (12 1/4 × 16 1/8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
50397
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In David’s powerful study, the defeated Roman general Marcus Atilius Regulus, refusing the entreaties of his wife, insists on being sent back to Carthage to be executed. The relief-like drawing, seemingly carved from stone, boldly combines a sober setting and technique (black ink, white wash) with extreme theatricality, like a scene performed onstage.
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings department of the Institute of Chicago sits Jacques-Louis David's *The Departure of Marcus Att Regulus for Carthage*1785/86), a masterful pen and black ink drawing enriched with brush and black ink, opaque white watercolor, chalk, and subtle brown watercolor touches on blue laid paper. 31 × 40.9 cm, this work captures the poignant moment when the Roman general Regulus, captured by Carthage during the First Punic War (264–241 BCE), honorably returns to his enemies after failing to secure a peace treaty in Rome—knowing it means certain death. David, a titan of Neoclassicism, drew inspiration from ancient Roman history to champion virtues like duty and stoicism, themes that resonated in the late 18th century amid Enlightenment ideals and brewing revolutionary fervor in France. Regulus's tale, immortalized by Livy and others, symbolized unyielding patriotism; David's dynamic composition, with its dramatic figures and chiaroscuro effects from ink washes, evokes the gravity of sacrifice, foreshadowing his grand history paintings like *The Oath of the Horatii*. This preparatory-style drawing highlights David's virtuoso draftsmanship on blue paper—a favored ground for tonal modeling—allowing white gouache to pop like highlights on marble sculpture. It offers visitors a rare glimpse into the meticulous process behind Neoclassical masterpieces, blending technical precision with profound moral storytelling.
About the Artist
Jacques Louis David · 1748–1825
Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825), born in Paris on August 30 to a prosperous family, faced early tragedy when his father was killed in a duel around age nine. Raised by his mother's two architect uncles after his mother departed, David overcame family resistance to architecture and a facial tumor that hindered his speech and studies at the Collège des Quatre-Nations. He began training under the Roc...