Delft
Last quarter of the 17th century

A fine Delft charger with the decoration of Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus, general and dictator of the Roman Republic, who lived in the 4^th century B.C.

Painted after an engraving by Hendrick Goltzius, from a series of Roman heroes.

In 361 BC, Titus Manlius fought in the army of Titus Poenus against the Gauls during the Battle of the Anio River. When a Gaul of enormous size and strength challenged the Romans to single combat, Manlius accepted the challenge with the approval of Poenus after the rest of the army had held back from responding for a long period. Despite being physically inferior, he killed the Gaul with blows to the belly and groin, after which he stripped the corpse of a torc and placed it around his own neck. This battle is shown in the background of the engraving.

On this plate, the image is shown in simplified form with Titus Manlius on horseback, seen from the back, in a landscape.

Provenance: From the collection of a Gentleman from Paris.

In good condition, but with a restored vertical break. Further with the normal superficial wear and small chips to the rim.