Teodatus biedt Julius Caesar het hoofd van Pompeius aan 1819

Bartolomeo Pinelli made this print, titled 'Teodatus offers Julius Caesar the head of Pompey', using etching, sometime between 1791 and 1835. Pinelli was an Italian artist working in a period shaped by Neoclassicism. He would turn to depictions of folklore and historical subjects. Here, Pinelli illustrates a pivotal, albeit grim, moment in ancient history. The scene captures Teodatus presenting Julius Caesar with the severed head of Pompey, a rival general. What unfolds is a complex intersection of power, betrayal, and political maneuvering. There is a stark tension between the act of offering and the humanity of the victim. The print forces us to confront the personal and political ramifications of violence. The artist asks us to consider not just the historical narrative, but the personal tragedies that punctuate its timeline. The emotional weight of the offering invites reflection on the human cost of power struggles.