An Open Right Hand, Fragment from the Tapestry Cartoon The Continence of Scipio
First half of the XVI century. Wash, Oil on paper. Not on displayThe hand and forearm correspond, in reverse, to that of the Roman general Scipio Africanus in a composition of the Continence of Scipio, the appearance of which is recorded in an old copy in the Louvre. In the Louvre drawing, Scipio is shown seated on a throne in front of his lictors: clearly seen in the cartoon fragment are the fasces held by two of the lictors, as well as the tunic decorated with scalloped edging worn by ine of them. The story of Scipio´s clemency is legendary. After one of his campaigns, he received a beautiful maiden as a prize of war. On learning she was betrothed, Scipio sought out her fiancé and returned her to him unharmed. In the early 1530s, Francis I, King of France commissioned the cycle of tapestry designs, representing both the Deeds and Triumphs of Scipio. The cartoons for the Triumphs, by Giulio and assistants, are today in the Louvre and at Chantilly.