Brutushoved 1846

This is Johan Thomas Lundbye’s drawing after Michelangelo’s sculpture of Brutus. The strong profile and the simple toga evoke a sense of Roman virtue. But Brutus is more than just a historical figure. His name is synonymous with the conflict between personal loyalty and civic duty. It appears again and again, as a symbol in art. We see echoes of Brutus, for example, in depictions of martyrs or revolutionaries. It is a figure caught in the crossfire of history. Consider the weight of his gaze: does it betray the inner turmoil of a man who killed his own father? Such a potent image taps into our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions about power, betrayal, and sacrifice. It reminds us that history is never truly past. The motif of Brutus, as an archetype, follows a cyclical path, constantly re-emerging in different guises to reflect the changing concerns of each age.