Toneel met de heldendaad van Marcus Curtius, 1578 1578 - 1579

Antoni van Leest’s “Toneel met de heldendaad van Marcus Curtius” is a small-scale wood engraving from 1578-1579 depicting the Roman hero Marcus Curtius riding his horse into a chasm in the Roman Forum. This act of self-sacrifice is said to have saved Rome from destruction. The artwork is framed within a theatrical setting with a backdrop of a Roman city wall, highlighting the historical context. The scene is intricately detailed, with a focus on the dramatic moment of the hero's sacrifice. This artwork is an excellent example of the illustrative engravings of the 16th century, which were often used to accompany texts and provide visual interpretations of historical events.