Marcus Curtius Leaping into the Chasm (recto); Study of a Seated Crowned Female Figure (verso) 1638 - 1721

This drawing, created by the Italian artist Luigi Garzi between 1638 and 1721, depicts the Roman legend of Marcus Curtius. The drawing illustrates the moment Curtius, a Roman soldier, leaps into a chasm that had opened in the Roman Forum to appease the gods and prevent its spread. Garzi's meticulous detail and dramatic composition capture the fear and awe of the event. The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, stands as a testament to Garzi's skill in capturing historical narratives through the medium of drawing.