Manius Curius Dentatus weigert geschenken van de Samnieten 1818

Bartolomeo Pinelli's 1818 engraving "Manius Curius Dentatus weigert geschenken van de Samnieten" depicts the Roman general Manius Curius Dentatus, seated at a table with his simple meal, refusing a gift of gold from Samnite envoys. This black and white illustration highlights the stoic Roman virtues of simplicity and discipline, as Dentatus rejects material wealth for the honor of serving his country. The scene is set in a Roman household, and the detail of the soldiers’ armor and the richness of the vessels presented by the Samnites contrasts with the simplicity of Dentatus’ meager meal, emphasizing the moral strength of the Roman general.