Pompeius laat de brieven van Sertorius verbranden - Louis Fabritius Dubourg

A historical scene depicting the Roman general Pompey ordering the destruction of incriminating letters to prevent further civil conflict.

This work by Louis Fabritius Dubourg depicts a specific historical episode from the life of the Roman general Pompey the Great. Following the defeat of the rebel leader Quintus Sertorius in Hispania, Pompey captured a collection of correspondence that allegedly contained the names of Roman senators who had conspired with the enemy. In a display of political magnanimity, Pompey ordered the documents to be burned without reading them, thereby preventing further civil strife and protecting the reputations of those involved.

Dubourg employs a clear, narrative style characteristic of mid-eighteenth-century historical illustration. The composition is structured around the central figure of Pompey, who sits upon a curule chair, gesturing towards the fire where the letters are being consumed. The surrounding soldiers and attendants are arranged to guide the viewer's eye toward the act of destruction, which serves as the moral centre of the scene. The use of ink lines provides definition to the figures and their classical armour, while the application of watercolour adds a soft, atmospheric quality to the outdoor setting.

The artist demonstrates a focus on classical iconography, evident in the drapery, the military standards, and the architectural elements. The scene is not merely a record of a past event, but an exercise in moral storytelling, common in the educational art of the period. The palette remains restrained, relying on muted earth tones and soft washes to maintain a sense of historical distance and gravity. This print offers a window into the way eighteenth-century artists interpreted ancient Roman virtues, presenting a moment of restraint and political calculation through a balanced, theatrical arrangement of figures.