Caius Marius sitting on the Ruins of Carthage.To His Grace John Duke of Atholl, Marquis & Earl of Atholl, Tullibardine, &c. &c. &c. / This plate is humbly inscribed by His Grace's much obliged and most devoted servant, Robert Blyth.
Drawn by Mortimer. Etch'd by R. Blyth. From an Original Drawing of Mortimer, in the Collection of Richard Payne Knight Esq.r. London Publish'd as the Act directs. Jan.y 20.th 1782. by R. Blyth N.o 27 Great Castle Street, Cavendish Square.
London, 1782.
Etching. 470 x 390mm (18½ x 15½"), with wide margins on 3 sides. Small tear, folds and creasing down left margin, stain on right.
A portrait of Roman general Gaius Marius (157-86 BCE) depicted isolated and exhausted. Though his political career was relatively successful, Marius fled Rome in 88 BCE after being defeated by Sulla and his unprecedented march on Rome. According to Plutarch Marius fled to Africa and landed in Carthage but was confronted by a Roman official who claimed the Praetor of the African province forbid Marius to rest here. When prompted Marius replied that the official should report to his governor simply that he had seen 'the exiled Marius sitting on the ruins of Carthage' (Plutarch Life of Marius). The artist Mortimer exhibited the his original drawing as well as an oil painting of the same subject at the 1774 Society of Artists exhibition after a commission be Edward Sachaverell Pole (1718-1780). The drawing was acquired by Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824) a fine art connoiseur best known for his theories on picturesque beauty.
[Ref: 53962] £260.00
London, 1782.
Etching. 470 x 390mm (18½ x 15½"), with wide margins on 3 sides. Small tear, folds and creasing down left margin, stain on right.
A portrait of Roman general Gaius Marius (157-86 BCE) depicted isolated and exhausted. Though his political career was relatively successful, Marius fled Rome in 88 BCE after being defeated by Sulla and his unprecedented march on Rome. According to Plutarch Marius fled to Africa and landed in Carthage but was confronted by a Roman official who claimed the Praetor of the African province forbid Marius to rest here. When prompted Marius replied that the official should report to his governor simply that he had seen 'the exiled Marius sitting on the ruins of Carthage' (Plutarch Life of Marius). The artist Mortimer exhibited the his original drawing as well as an oil painting of the same subject at the 1774 Society of Artists exhibition after a commission be Edward Sachaverell Pole (1718-1780). The drawing was acquired by Richard Payne Knight (1751-1824) a fine art connoiseur best known for his theories on picturesque beauty.
[Ref: 53962] £260.00