Decius Mus Consulting the Soothsayer
About this artwork
This oil sketch was created by Peter Paul Rubens as a preliminary study for the Decius Mus tapestry cycle, commissioned to depict the life of the Roman hero. It focuses on the moment Decius Mus consults a soothsayer before the Battle of Veseris.
Did you know?
This painting belongs to a famous series depicting the self-sacrifice of the Roman consul Decius Mus, who vowed his own life to the gods to ensure victory for his army. Rubens designed these scenes to be woven into grand tapestries, demonstrating his immense influence on the artistic tastes of the European aristocracy. The scene captures the high-stakes moment of divination where the hero learns of his inevitable fate on the battlefield.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Decius Mus Consulting the Soothsayer
Peter Paul Rubens, 1617
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