The Romans clothed by the Inhabitants of Capua 

John Leech made this ink drawing called ‘The Romans clothed by the Inhabitants of Capua’. While we don’t have the exact date, Leech was active in England during the mid-19th century. The drawing refers to the story of the defeat of the Roman army by Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Hannibal wintered in Capua, where his troops were seduced by the city’s luxuries. The image offers us a glimpse into the visual codes of power dynamics and cultural exchange. Leech might be commenting on the social structures of his own time, reflecting Victorian England's complex relationship with its own imperial power. Is this a celebration of the ability of others to disarm the military or is it a warning against the dangers of excess and the weakening of national character? To understand this artwork better, a historian might explore the visual culture of 19th-century Britain, examining how classical themes were used to comment on contemporary politics and society. After all, the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.