Cornelis van Poelenburgh

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 12 June 1981, lot 180;
There acquired.

The subject of this panel is The Flight of Cloelia, an episode from ancient Roman history that found renewed popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries. In circa 508 BC, Cloelia was taken hostage by the Etruscan king Lars Porsena in exchange for his agreement to relinquish his siege on Rome, thus ending the war between the Etruscans and the Romans. Soon after her capture, Cloelia fled Porsena’s camp, crossing the Tiber on horseback and encouraging other female captives to swim after her. Upon learning of their escape, Porsena demanded the return of Cloelia and her companions. After the Romans accommodated this demand, Porsena’s anger subsided, and it was replaced instead by his admiration for Cloelia’s courage and bravery. In return, he released Cloelia and her companions, presenting them with horses upon which they rode back to Rome. The present panel shows Cloelia on horseback in the River, encouraging her companions to join her in escaping Porsena across the Tiber, where the Castel Sant'Angelo and Saint Peter's are shown in the background.