Bidspirit auction | Augsburg Master, 17th Century

Augsburg Master, 17th Century - Augsburg Master, 17th Century -The Self-Sacrifice of Marcus Curtius. This powerful oil on canvas depicts one of the most celebrated acts of civic virtue from Roman history: the self-sacrifice of Marcus Curtius. According to the annals of Livy, a deep chasm opened in the Roman Forum which could only be closed by sacrificing Rome's most precious possession. The young soldier Marcus Curtius, embodying the Roman ideal of virtus, realized that the city's greatest strength lay in the courage of its citizens. He is captured here at the dramatic climax of the narrative, fully armored and mounted on his horse, as he plunges into the dark abyss to save the Republic. Oil on canvas , 36 x 45 cm Dimensions 36 x 45 cm