The Continence of Scipio

The painting depicts the legendary act of mercy by Scipio Africanus, a Roman general during the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) described by Livius (Livy). Scipio returns a beautiful female prisoner taken from the conquered Carthage to her fiancé and parents, refusing a generous ransom. The narration is aptly illustrated owing to a plethora of artistic means used by Rembrandt, since Jacob de Wet was one of his pupils.