Getty Museum
The Beheading of Pompey
Creator
Boucicaut MasterFrench Illuminator · 1390–1430
All works by this person →In the early 1400s, the Boucicaut Master was the leading master of manuscript illumination in Paris and one of the most influential artists working in the International style in northern Europe. The Boucicaut Master appears to have supervised a talented team of artists who produced manuscripts commissioned by the king of France, high-ranking aristocrats, and the wealthy bourgeoisie. He probably al
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1413–1415
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink
- Culture
- French
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
The headless body of the Roman statesman and general Pompey floats at sea, while an Egyptian soldier holds his severed head aloft on a lance. After opposing Julius Caesar during a civil war, Pompey fled to Egypt seeking Ptolemy's aid against Caesar. Ptolemy sent a small ship to meet Pompey, as if he wanted to greet him with respect, though he had deceitfully instructed his servants to kill him. They beheaded Pompey at sea and carried his head on a lance throughout Alexandria, as if celebrating a great victory. Later, they presented their ghoulish trophy to Caesar.
The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
Get printable QR codesHide QR codes
Open QR codes for this object page and the museum record. They stay collapsed until needed.
Related across collections
Semantically similar works from Getty Museum and other institutions.