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Giulio Licinio, 'The Continence of Scipio', after 1566

About the work

Overview

The Continence of Scipio is one of a series of paintings that show scenes from ancient Roman history. They were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three other pictures in the series are in the National Gallery’s collection: The Attack on Cartagena, The Rape of the Sabines and The Intervention of the Sabine Women.

The painting depicts an event that reveals the Roman general Scipio Africanus’s clemency as a military leader. During Scipio’s campaign against the Carthaginians in Iberia his troops took a beautiful young woman prisoner. Here, the young woman stands behind the seated Scipio in a modest pose based on classical statues of Venus (known in Latin as Venus pudica). Rather than abusing her, Scipio allows the young woman to return to her fiancé, provided that her family become friends of Rome. The ransom raised by her family is being unloaded from camels, but Scipio returns it as a wedding gift, thereby showing both financial and sexual restraint.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Continence of Scipio
Artist dates
about 1527; died after 1584
Part of the series
Scenes from Ancient Roman History
Date made
after 1566
Medium and support
oil, originally on wood, transferred to canvas
Dimensions
35.6 × 153 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1860
Inventory number
NG643.2
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

Images

About the series: Scenes from Ancient Roman History

Overview

These four pictures are from a series of paintings of scenes from ancient Roman history. They were made for the decoration of a room and were originally painted on panel but have since been transferred to canvas. Their size and horizontal format suggests they were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling, as was common practice in Renaissance Venice.

The pictures in the National Gallery’s collection show: The Attack on Cartagena; The Continence of Scipio; The Rape of the Sabines; and The Intervention of the Sabine Women. Two other pictures from the same series, Coriolanus and Scipio rewarding the Soldiers, are in a private collection.

Works in the series

The Attack on Cartagena is one of a series of scenes from ancient Roman history that were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three further scenes from the series – The Continence of Scipio, The Rape of the Sabines and The Intervention of the Sabine Women – are also in the Natio...
Not on display
The Continence of Scipio is one of a series of paintings that show scenes from ancient Roman history. They were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three other pictures in the series are in the National Gallery’s collection: The Attack on Cartagena, The Rape of the Sabines and T...
Not on display
The Rape of the Sabines is one of a series of paintings that show scenes from ancient Roman history. They were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three other pictures in the series are in the National Gallery’s collection: The Attack on Cartagena,The Continence of Scipio and Th...
Not on display
The Intervention of the Sabine Women is one of a series of paintings that show scenes from ancient Roman history. They were probably intended to be inserted into wall panelling. Three other pictures in the series are in the National Gallery’s collection: The Attack on Cartagena, The Continence of...
Not on display