Lucius Brutus c. 1663 - 1665

Curator: What an interesting piece. Here we have Domenico Peruzzini's "Lucius Brutus," a drawing created around 1663 to 1665 that resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The scene presents a determined figure amidst other more diffuse, sketchy characters. Editor: There's a nervous energy to this drawing. Everything looks hastily sketched, almost as if the artist were trying to capture a fleeting image before it vanished. You can feel that instability. Curator: This portrayal of Brutus carries potent symbolic weight, doesn't it? Peruzzini’s rendering speaks volumes about power and responsibility. The composition, with Brutus in the foreground and other figures in the background, establishes him as the pivotal figure. Brutus is the symbol of Roman liberty. Editor: Look at the repetitive, almost obsessive strokes Peruzzini used to build up form. You can see the labor in every mark, a relentless need to give material shape to an idea. The choice of sepia ink is interesting too. Curator: The use of sepia contributes significantly to its narrative depth, evoking a sense of historical distance. That stylistic choice invites viewers to connect with a historical figure who, by the way, historically condemned his own sons to death for treason, to maintain Roman liberty. Editor: How subversive is this commitment to portraying classical stories and themes through such raw, almost frantic mark-making. The materials speak to a frenzied need to communicate, as if the urgency couldn’t be contained within a perfectly polished finished object. This is what draws me in. Curator: Absolutely. It makes this history more tactile, more human. You feel closer to that very moment that he represents, that precise conflict of Roman identity. Editor: Agreed. Peruzzini is a master here of his craft, but not trying to display the piece of craft per se, more likely his intention to convey meaning. Fascinating, thank you for guiding me through the symbolism in this baroque portrait. Curator: Thank you, it was a pleasure diving into the meaning together!