John Smibert, The Continence of Scipio, ca. 1719-1722, oil on canvas, 45 3/4 in. x 62 5/8 in. (116.21 cm x 159.07 cm), Smibert's painting is a copy of a 1640 painting by the revered French painter Nicolas Poussin. Its subject derives from Roman history. During the Second Punic War, the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus decided to return his war spoils, including the bride of his enemy Allucius, the young prince of the Celtiberians. Scipio's moral fortitude presented an ideal subtext for Poussin's classical interpretation. John Smibert, the copyist, was a portrait painter from Scotland who trained in London and later set out with Dean George Berkeley to found a college in Bermuda. This painting was intended to be part of the college's teaching collection, but when that project fell through, Smibert exhibited it in his Boston studio and art supply store. In Boston it set an example for John Singleton Copley, who admired it. At Bowdoin College since James Bowdoin III's bequest in 1813, the work has contributed to the education of countless generations of students.
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John Smibert, Continence, Scipio, ca. 1719-1722, oil, canvas, 45 3/4 . x 62 5/8, 116.21 cm x 159.07 cm, Smibert's painting, copy, 1640 painting, revered French painter Nicolas Poussin., subject derives, Roman history., Second Punic War, Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus decided, return, war spoils, bride, enemy Allucius, young prince, Celtiberians. Scipio's moral fortitude presented, ideal subtext, Poussin's classical interpretation. John Smibert, copyist, portrait painter, Scotland, trained, London, later set out, Dean George Berkeley, college, Bermuda., painting, intended, part, college's teaching collection, project fell, Smibert exhibited, Boston studio, art supply store., Boston, set, example, John Singleton Copley, admired ., Bowdoin College, James Bowdoin III's bequest, 1813, work, contributed, education, countless generations, students
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