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Lot 125 PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581-1642)
The Bravery of the Persian Women
Closed9 July 2014
Price Realised
GBP 122,500
More Information
Specialist note
This enticing, unrecorded copper depicts a scene from Plutarchs De mulierum virtutibus, from his Moralia, V (Plutarch, De mulierum virtutibus, 5, 246f):
'At the time when Cyrus induced the Persians to revolt from King Astyages and the Medes he was defeated in battle. As the Persians were fleeing to the city, with the enemy not far from forcing their way in along with the Persians, the women ran out to meet them before the city, and, lifting up their garments, said, "Whither are you rushing so fast, you biggest cowards in the whole world? Surely you cannot, in your flight, slink in here whence you came forth." The Persians, mortified at the sight and the words, chiding themselves for cowards, rallied and, engaging the enemy afresh, put them to rout.'
'At the time when Cyrus induced the Persians to revolt from King Astyages and the Medes he was defeated in battle. As the Persians were fleeing to the city, with the enemy not far from forcing their way in along with the Persians, the women ran out to meet them before the city, and, lifting up their garments, said, "Whither are you rushing so fast, you biggest cowards in the whole world? Surely you cannot, in your flight, slink in here whence you came forth." The Persians, mortified at the sight and the words, chiding themselves for cowards, rallied and, engaging the enemy afresh, put them to rout.'