A Roman Admiral (The Roman Album) 1775 - 1780

Editor: This drawing is Jacques-Louis David's *A Roman Admiral*, from his Roman Album. I’m struck by how David uses line to convey the weight and authority associated with this classical figure, but what do you see in this piece? Curator: David’s choice to depict a Roman Admiral certainly speaks volumes about the cultural memory he wished to evoke. The raised hand, the laurel wreath, the armor - these are all potent symbols of Roman power and virtue. What do these symbols mean to us today? Editor: They seem to glorify a certain kind of leadership, maybe one that’s a bit outdated now? I wonder if David intended that at all. Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps he saw in these symbols something timeless about human nature, our aspirations for glory and order. Reflect on how images shape our understanding of the past and ourselves.