Mucius Scaevola

Jean Honoré Fragonard

1764

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a dramatic scene with four figures. A man in the center holds his right hand over a fire, looking intense. Another man leans in, shocked, while a woman and child stand nearby, watching. In the background, a ship sails on a stormy sea. The artist used shading to make the figures look urgent and emotional. The fire’s flames and the ship’s movement add tension to the scene. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this create deep shadows and textures.