Manlius Hurled From The Rock 1818

"Manlius Hurled From the Rock" (1818) by William Etty depicts the dramatic moment when the Roman general Marcus Manlius Capitolinus, a hero of the Gallic sack of Rome, is thrown from the Tarpeian Rock, a site of execution. The painting showcases Etty's interest in the human form with its emphasis on the muscular anatomy of Manlius's body and his struggle for survival as he plummets toward the earth. The depiction of clouds and a dramatic sky contributes to the sense of impending doom and the pathos of Manlius's fate. Etty's artwork draws upon classical history and mythology to convey a potent and poignant scene of human struggle.