Perseus, King of Macedon, in the Tent of the Roman Consul Paulus Emilius

Gravelot's design is preparatory for an engraved frontispiece to Volume IX of Charles Rollin's "The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, and Persians..." (London, 1738-40). The 2nd century BC Roman consul and conqueror of Macedonia, Paulus Emilius, is shown seated in his tent, surrounded by soldiers; before him sits Perseus, his shoulders slumped in defeat. The engraving, signed "H. Gravelot inv.del. et sculp.", bears the date February 16, 1740.