Artist: James McConnell (biography)
Medium: Watercolour on Board
Size: 7" x 6" (190mm x 140mm)
Date: 1983This is the original Watercolour painting by James McConnell.
In around 505 BC the infant Roman Republic was threatened by the Etruscan armies of Lars Porsenna, King of Clusium, who attacked the city in order to restore the ousted last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. Horatius Cocles was in command of the Pons Sublicius when the Etruscans broke the Roman line and began to cross the bridge.
Cocles, along with two other Roman officers, Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius, stood their ground on the bridge, and fought off the Etruscans whilst other Romans destroyed the bridge. Cocles was eventually wounded badly when escaping the bridge and ended his days as a highly esteemed retired disabled veteran.
This original piece of artwork, from the Look and Learn 1001 Questions and Answers Book, 1983, depicts Cocles, flanked by Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminis, defending the Pons Sublicius.