Coriolanus toont zijn littekens 1819

Bartolomeo Pinelli made this etching titled "Coriolanus toont zijn littekens" in the early 19th century, during a period when artists mined classical history for its lessons on virtue and leadership. Here, we see the Roman general Coriolanus displaying his battle scars to the citizens of Rome. The scene is staged with the clear architecture of civic virtue in the background, and the crowd is arranged in a semi-circle around the general, suggesting a theater. Pinelli made this image in Italy, during the Napoleonic era, when Rome was again at the heart of European politics. By referencing the Roman Republic, Pinelli seems to be asking questions about what qualities and institutions make for a good society. Is it military might? Is it deference to charismatic leaders? Or something else? To understand Pinelli's image fully, scholars consult source texts from classical literature as well as the political debates of his time. Through such research, we can better understand the role of art as a commentary on the shifting sands of political fortune.