This painting, by the French artist Fernand Pelez, depicts the death scene of the infamous Emperor Commodus (r. 180-192), son of the highly respected Emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 161-180). During his chaotic reign, Commodus focused on personal leisure, hedonism, and spectacles in the Roman Colosseum. Under his unfocused stewardship of Rome, in which administrative duties were largely delegated to powerful advisors, the Roman government became infested with corruption, and in such an environment, plots against Commodus’ life became plentiful. During his reign that lasted over a decade, Commodus survived a slew of hostile plots from figures such as his sister, senators, and close advisors, all of which failed until the remainder of the unpopular ruler’s inner circle finally turned on the emperor in 192. The spark of this final plot reportedly was Commodus’ ambition to fight as a gladiator in a New Year’s celebration, a dream that the inner circle believed would cause great embarrassment to the Roman Empire. In response to Commodus’ announcement of his gladiatorial plans, many of the emperor’s closest confidants began plotting his demise.
Conspirators in on the plot included Marcia (Commodus’ mistress), Electus (the latest administrative adviser), Quintas Aemilius Laertus (commander of the Praetorian Guard) and Narcissus (Commodus’ wrestling instructor). Marcia initiated the plot by slipping poison into Commodus’ supply of wine. The emperor, however, vomited the poisonous substance out of his system and headed off to clean up without any suspicion. The weakened emperor went to bathe, but that was where the wrestler, Narcissus, finished the plot. He strangled Commodus in the bath, ending the life of the young emperor on December 31, 192. It is this assassination that the artist, Fernand Pelez, re-creates in his painting.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. California: Xist Publishing, 2015.
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcus-Aurelius-Roman-emperor
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Annia-Galeria-Faustina
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus
- https://www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/petit-palais/oeuvres/mort-de-l-empereur-commode#infos-principales
