Gaius Mucius Scaevola Thrusting His Right Hand into Fire 1740 - 1793

Marco Marcola made this drawing, "Gaius Mucius Scaevola Thrusting His Right Hand into Fire," sometime in the late 18th century. During this time, Europe was in the throes of the Enlightenment, a period of great social and political upheaval. Marcola portrays a legendary act of Roman courage, which was intended to show Roman virtue and stoicism. Gaius Mucius Scaevola, after being captured attempting to assassinate King Lars Porsena, famously demonstrated his resolve by thrusting his right hand into a sacrificial fire. The tension between the stoic self-control displayed by Scaevola, and the theatrical display of power by King Lars Porsena is palpable. We see not only the physical pain being endured, but also the implied psychological struggle, and the political implications of the act. Marcola seems to be asking what it means to sacrifice oneself for one's nation. This drawing prompts us to reflect on the intersections of power, identity, and sacrifice, both then and now.