Scipio Liberating Massiva) is a painting depicting a scene from ancient Roman history by the Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (alt.

[1] The painting depicts the Roman general Scipio Africanus after the 209 BCE Battle of Baecula in present-day Spain where he defeated the Carthaginians, capturing their Iberian and North African allies.

The painting details the moment in which one of the captured Africans is brought before Scipio, who recognises him to be Massiva, the nephew of a chieftain of Eastern Numidia, Massinissa.

[2] Scipio reportedly frees Massiva, sending him home to his uncle laden with gifts and so winning Massinissa's loyalty for Rome.

[3] His patrons included such people as doge Giovanni II Cornaro, archbishop Dionisio Dolfin of Udine, the Swedish ambassador Count Carl Gustaf Tessin and Charles III of Spain.

Because few colours are highly saturated the strong red at the centre of the painting draws the eye directly to Scipio on the top of the central dais.

The rich blue in the costume of the standard bearer directly in the foreground then catches the eye and leads the viewer back to the top of the dais along the diagonal lines of his body.

The 18th century was also a time of huge global exploration and trade making ‘exotic’ places such as Asia and Africa points of interest and fascination.