Curtius Leaping into the Gulf
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| Curtius Leaping into the Gulf | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Benjamin Robert Haydon |
| Year | 1842 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 304.8 cm × 213.3 cm (120.0 in × 84.0 in) |
| Location | Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter |
Curtius Leaping into the Gulf is an 1842 history painting by the British artist Benjamin Robert Haydon.[1] It depicts a scene from the early Roman Republic recorded by Livy. Marcus Curtius bravely leaps into a giant hole that had opened up in the Roman Forum in an act of self-sacrifice in order to save the city.[2] The face of Curtius is a self-portrait of Haydon, while he used the Elgin Marbles as an inspiration for the horse.[3] It was displayed at the 1843 Royal Institution exhibition in London.[4] It was generally praised and was described by the Morning Chronicle as "the finest work of art in the exhibition".[5] The painting is in the collection of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, having been acquired in 1933.[6]
