Artwork
The Continence of Scipio
The Continence of Scipio is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *The Continence of Scipio* dates from around 1750 and is attributed to the artist recorded as 37767_person. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and exists as a black‑and‑white image that captures a staged, dramatic tableau.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a central male figure, likely representing the Roman general Scipio, standing with a spear while a kneeling woman—presumably a captive—offers herself in supplication. Surrounding characters, including a child and a banner‑bearer, suggest a narrative of mercy and diplomatic resolution.
Technique & Style
The image employs a pronounced chiaroscuro effect: stark contrasts of deep shadow and bright illumination separate the figures and create a spotlight‑like focus on the central action. The figures are rendered in flowing robes and armor, emphasizing the theatricality of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1750, the piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to 37767_person reflects cataloguing practices that assign a placeholder identifier to the artist.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Enthaltsamkeit des Scipio
The Meeting of Alexander the Great and Diogenes
Esther Kneeling before Ahasverus
Esther Kneeling before Ahasverus
Familie des Darius
Allegory on the Crowning of Charles II
Plutus, IV akt, 4. scene
Allegory on the Crowning of Charles II
The Reconciliation of Romans and Sabines, before or up to 1620s