Regulus' vertrek uit Carthago 1771

This print, Regulus' Departure from Carthage, was made by Valentine Green in eighteenth-century Britain. It reflects a fascination at the time with classical history. Here, the Roman general Regulus prepares to return to Rome from Carthage, knowing he will be tortured and killed. This scene, steeped in neoclassical architecture, resonates with the period's ideals of civic virtue and self-sacrifice. It speaks to the political climate of the time, where notions of duty and patriotism were central. The print also engages with the period's institutional art world. Prints like this one allowed for the wide distribution of history paintings outside the aristocratic circles that purchased the originals. Art historians can examine visual art using textual sources to understand the imagery of the print. By exploring the prints, engravings and other artworks from the period, we can gain a richer understanding of its social and cultural values.