Camille and Brennus
Canvas
47x63 inch
The action of Brennus, leader of the Gallic army, is a feat urging the Romans to bravery. Recounted by Livy and Plutarch, it takes place in 390 BC at the time of the sack of Rome by the Gauls. These spare only the Capitol they occupy. To obtain the liberation of their city the Romans agree to
pay a ransom in gold but dispute the value of the weights used by the Gauls for weighing the goldsmithery brought. To show his good faith, Brennus adds his own sword to the ransom when Camillus intervenes and halts the delivery of gold, lambasting his fellow citizens who preferred to liberate Rome with gold rather than iron, like their ancestors the had done. The subject was treated by Sebastiano Ricci (around 1659-1734) in a small canvas kept at the Fesch Museum, Ajaccio (inv. MFA 852.1.772).
We can also point out a drawing by Potain at the Salon of 1796, presented with another drawing: “Firmness of the old Romans, who preferred to perish rather than abandon Rome”.
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