Plate 14: The Tragic Death of Tarquin the Elder; from volume I of Rollin's 'Istoria Romana' 1818

Bartolomeo Pinelli created this print, "The Tragic Death of Tarquin the Elder," as part of an illustrated volume of Roman history. Pinelli was working in a time of burgeoning nationalism, and his work, in both subject and style, reflects a longing for the grandeur of the past. The image depicts the assassination of the Etruscan King Tarquin, an event which led to the founding of the Roman Republic. The horror of the moment is palpable: those closest to the king recoil in terror and grief. But beyond this intimate circle, a phalanx of men brandish fasces, symbols of Roman power and unity. Pinelli’s Rome was a city grappling with its identity. By representing this foundational narrative, Pinelli asks his audience to remember both the cost and the necessity of revolution, suggesting that violence is sometimes a necessary tool for freedom and self-determination. This print is not just a historical record, but an emotionally charged reflection on power, sacrifice, and the birth of a nation.