Marcus Curtius 1600 - 1700

This etching, created by Swiss artist Samuel Stettler between 1600 and 1700, depicts the Roman legend of Marcus Curtius. The scene portrays Curtius, a Roman soldier, riding his horse into a gaping chasm that had opened in the Roman Forum. A fallen soldier and a dog in the foreground add to the dramatic scene. Stettler’s masterful use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and detail, showcasing the dynamic movement of the horse and the frantic energy of the scene. The etching is currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York.