Marcus Atilius Regulus in a barrel while two men are hammering in the nails, various figures throughout

Art Historical Context

This striking engraving captures a dramatic moment from ancient Roman history: the legendary death of Marcus Atilius Regulus, a consul captured during the First Punic War. According to tradition, Regulus was returned to Carthage, where he endured torture inside a barrel lined with nails—an image of stoic endurance that later symbolized Roman virtue and self-sacrifice. The composition, designed by Giulio Romano and engraved by Diana Scultori, shows two men hammering nails into the barrel while surrounding figures react with varied expressions of horror and resolve. Created between 1555 and 1577 as the first state of two, the print reflects the collaborative printmaking culture of Renaissance Rome. Scultori, one of the few professional female engravers of her era, translated Romano’s dynamic Mannerist style into fine line work that heightens the scene’s tension. Published by Antonio Lafreri, such engravings helped disseminate classical stories across Europe, shaping how later generations visualized ancient heroism. Measuring roughly 13 by 16 inches, this work from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection invites viewers to consider both the brutality of the tale and the technical mastery required to convey it on copperplate.