Artwork

Brutus entdeckt die Namen seiner Söhne auf der Liste der Verschwörer und verurteilt sie zum Tode

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein , 1796

Brutus entdeckt die Namen seiner Söhne auf der Liste der Verschwörer und verurteilt sie zum Tode is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Johann Heinrich Wilhelm W.

About this work

Overview

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm W. Tischbein completed this oil on canvas in 1796. Executed in the neoclassical idiom, the work is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. It portrays a dramatic moment from early Roman history, focusing on the consul Lucius Junius Brutus as he pronounces death upon his own sons for treason.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures Brutus seated on a chair, clothed in a white tunic and pink toga, holding a list of conspirators in his right hand while extending his left arm in a gesture of condemnation. Around him stand Roman figures in varied hues—yellow, green, brown—some armored with helmets and bearing weapons, emphasizing the gravity of the betrayal against the Republic.

Technique & Style

Tischbein employs a restrained palette of earthy browns and tans, lending the composition a warm tonal harmony typical of neoclassical painting. The figures are rendered with clear outlines and balanced proportions, while the architectural backdrop with columns provides a structured setting that reinforces the classical theme.

History & Provenance

Created toward the end of the 18th century, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces directly from Tischbein’s studio to the Swiss museum, reflecting the work’s early acquisition by a public collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein, known as the Goethe Tischbein (15 February 1751 – 26 June 1829), was a German painter from the Tischbein family of artists.