Marcus Valerius Corvinus verslaat een Galliër before 1667

"Marcus Valerius Corvinus verslaat een Galliër" (Marcus Valerius Corvinus defeats a Gaul), a drawing created before 1667 by Dutch artist Moses ter Borch (1645-1667), depicts a dynamic scene from Roman history. Ter Borch, known for his portraiture and genre scenes, employs a loose, gestural style in this work, capturing the intensity of the battle. The Roman general, Marcus Valerius Corvinus, is depicted in full armor, his sword raised in victory over a fallen Gaulish warrior. The background features a battlefield with a glimpse of a larger group of soldiers, contributing to the sense of drama and chaos. This drawing, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into Ter Borch’s artistic development beyond his typical subject matter, demonstrating his talent for historical narrative and his keen eye for capturing movement and action.