Soldaat van Marcellus vermoordt Archimedes 1819

Bartolomeo Pinelli made this print, titled "Soldier of Marcellus murders Archimedes," sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The image depicts a Roman soldier about to strike down Archimedes, the famous Greek mathematician and inventor. This image, created during the Neoclassical period, engages with the history of art institutions. Consider the conventions of history painting: its heroic themes, its moralizing tone, and its promotion of civic virtue. Pinelli's print challenges those conventions by depicting a moment of brutal violence and intellectual loss, with a Roman soldier killing a Greek Scholar. In the context of Pinelli’s Italy, dominated by foreign powers and yearning for its own past greatness, the print subtly critiques contemporary institutions through its portrayal of ancient history. The contrast between the Roman soldier's aggression and Archimedes's peaceful pursuit of knowledge offers a commentary on the values of empire versus those of intellectual inquiry. To understand this print fully, it is important to consult historical sources, archaeological records, and the writings of ancient historians.