Schoolmeester door Camillus gestraft 1794

This drawing called *Schoolmeester door Camillus gestraft* was made by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman. In the image, Roman children are encouraged by Camillus to beat a schoolteacher. The cultural references here allude to an idealised vision of classical antiquity then current. Produced in the Netherlands at the turn of the 19th century, this drawing suggests how civic virtue, a highly debated and fashionable topic at the time, was often discussed using antique imagery. What makes this drawing so fascinating is that the Roman Republic was frequently cited as a model of a successful and well-organised society and it was held up as a mirror to contemporary society. To interpret the image, we need to contextualise its production within social and institutional frameworks. Scholarly publications and archival material can reveal the artist's intention, the artwork's reception, and its role in shaping ideas about citizenship and social order at the time.