Death of Seneca, (painting)

Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Object Details

artist
Spagnoletto
Subject
Seneca
Appears in exhibition catalog as entry no. 47
His death took place in the following manner:--Silvanus, the Tribune, by order of Nero surrounded Seneca's villa with a troop of soldiers and then sent in a Centurion to acquaint him with the Emperor's orders that he should put himself to death. On the receipt of this command, he opened the veins of his arms and legs. This was found ineffectual, and he ordered the vessels of his legs and joints to be punctured and as his life was ebbing fast he called for his Secretaries and dictated his final discourse. Fatigued at last with pain, worn out and exhausted, he requested his friend, Statius Annaeus, to administer a draft of hemlock. The potion was swallowed, but without any immediate effect. He then desired to be placed in a warm bath, and the vapour overpowering him he then breathed his last. [P. 2.]
Catalogue of Paintings, Water-Colours and Engravings, exhibited in the Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Toronto, C.W. September, 1852. Contributor's copy with the Grateful Acknowledgements of--Toronto: Henry Boswell, King Street. 1852.
1876
Control number
AECI 09570047
Type
Paintings
Exhibition Catalogs
Pre-1877 Art Exhibition Catalogue Index
Topic
Portrait male
State of Being--Death
Record ID
siris_aeci_127544
Metadata Usage (text)
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