Title: Death of Virginia

Artist: Guillaume Guillon

The Death of Virginia About 1825–28 Guillaume Guillon Lethière French, Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe 1760–Paris 1832 Oil on paper, mounted on canvas "A mixed-race artist from the colony of Guadeloupe, Lethière had an extraordinary career in France. This work is a sketch for one of his most monumental paintings (today at the Louvre Museum), which depicts a horrifying moment in ancient Roman history. Virginia, the daughter of a centurion officer, has fallen into a death swoon (lower right). Rather than see her forced into slavery by a corrupt and lustful magistrate, her father stabs her and kills her in an act of desperation. The bereaved, distraught man brandishes the bloodied dagger at the magistrate, standing defiantly above the crowd. He appeals to justice that is no longer present."