European Art and Old Masters

Note

Scipio Africanus (236 BCE–183 BCE) was a noted Roman general who led the army in the defeat of Hannibal, the Carthaginian leader, in the final battle of the Second Punic War. During the conquest a beautiful young woman was captured and presented to Scipio. Instead of punishing the woman, upon learning that she was engaged, he set her free to return to her fiancé (Allucius) and parents. Allucius is here depicted kneeling before Scipio, and offers gold as a ransom, which Scipio refused. Scipio’s actions were heralded as being virtuous, magnanimous - hence the title of the present painting.

We wish to thank the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, also known as R.K.D., for confirming the authenticity of this work, and for heir kind assistance in researching it. Although more portraits by Isaac Paling have survived, he also painted genre and history paintings. There is archival evidence for this, as six history paintings by him are listed in the probate inventory of his father Johannes Paling on 17 September 1671.