Chris Gillibrand of Cathcon sent me a link to this picture which is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since he thought it might be "useful."The masterpiece was painted about 1725-1729 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a Venetian rococo artist, as part of a cycle of large canvases (this one is 411.5 x 376.9 cm) used to decorate a reception room in the Ca' Dolfin at Venice; it depicts the capture of Cathage by Scipio Aemilianus who razed the city to the ground, answering the constant demands of Cato the Elder.
The Oxford Companion to Western Art says that in his work,
Tiepolo consciously revives the artistic language of Veronese, not out of nostalgia but as a source of strength and renewal.
6 comments:
"Carthago delenda est." Now, where have I heard that before ... ?
Roman legions taking Carthage apart stone by stone.
I have always felt a little sorry for poor old Carthage. Let's face it, the Punic wars started off as a jealous trade war, and most of the barbarous customs related by Livy et al. are probably propaganda. And then again there's the whole Dido issue- but don't let's confuse mythology history and politics...
Archeology says the baby sacrifices weren't made up.
"...et Tabula fracta in terra iacet..."
lol Father! I just tagged you by the way. Take a look at my latest post to see (you may include an allusion to this painting in your own list!)
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