Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Leaving his Plough

In this scene, a senator is prevailing upon the Roman general Cincinnatus to leave his ox plough and come to the rescue of Rome, which was engaged in a disastrous war. According to the Roman historian Livy, Cincinnatus – the paragon of a virtuous leader – relinquished his newly acquired power immediately after the Roman victory in order to return to his farm.