Marcus Valerius, objectnr A 59387

A monumental, muscular figure stands with his back to the viewer, clad in an ornate plumed helmet and a heavy cloak that swirls in the wind. In the lower left background, a small narrative scene illustrates the hero's legend: a raven alights on Valerius's helmet to attack the eyes of his giant Gaulish opponent. The print is characterized by the swelling, rhythmic line-work and exaggerated anatomy typical of Dutch Mannerism.

Part of the 'Roman Heroes' series, this work exemplifies the late Renaissance revival of Stoic virtue and the use of classical exemplars for moral instruction. The raven serves as a symbol of divine providence intervening in human affairs, a concept central to the period's natural philosophy and providential history.