Tarpeia wordt overgehaald door Titus Tatius om de stadspoorten te openen 1572 - 1573

Giovanni Battista Fontana etched this print, "Tarpeia wordt overgehaald door Titus Tatius om de stadspoorten te openen," sometime in the 16th century. We see Tarpeia, a Roman maiden, negotiating with Titus Tatius, the Sabine king, her hands outstretched to receive what she believes will be golden bracelets. This gesture of open hands, promising betrayal for glittering reward, echoes through history. We see it in Judas accepting silver for betraying Christ, a motif repeated endlessly in Christian art. The lure of gold, the glittering promise of power – these are primal temptations. Consider how this archetype resonates, transcending its specific narrative. The allure of immediate gratification versus loyalty, a theme as relevant today as it was centuries ago. This psychological tension, depicted here so vividly, speaks to our own internal conflicts and our collective memory of betrayal and corruption. The past, it seems, is always present, whispering its warnings through art.