Military Hero Honoring Personification of Rome c. 17th century

This anonymous 17th-century drawing, "Military Hero Honoring Personification of Rome," held at the Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a scene of classical allegory. In the foreground, a Roman soldier kneels in reverence before a female figure, likely representing Roma, personifying the city of Rome. Behind them, another soldier stands with a horse. The landscape setting, possibly alluding to a victory in battle, adds to the overall theme of military triumph and the glorification of Rome. The drawing's delicate brown wash and free-flowing lines capture the movement and energy of the scene, making it a compelling study of the Roman warrior tradition.