Manlius hurled from the rock

Marcus Manlius, surnamed 'Capitolinus' on account of his heroic defence of the Rome against the Gauls became a Consul in 392 B.C. but was accused by the Roman patricians of high treason in 384 B.C. and was hurled to his death down the Tarpeian Rock by the Tribunes. This picture would appear to be a preliminary idea for a larger composition which was first recorded in the collection of George Franklin and was later in the collection A. W. Bacon, of Otley, Suffolk, who also owned the previous lot (45 x 33 in. ; for which see D. Farr, William Etty, London, 1958, p. 148, no. 70, illustrated pl. 10 (a)).