This illustration, by the French artist Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol (c. 1785–1861), was inspired by the ancient story of the assassination of Emperor Nero’s stepbrother, Britannicus. As the reader may suspect, the brothers had a complicated relationship. Britannicus was the biological son of Emperor Claudius and his third wife, Valeria Messalina. Britannicus’ mother, unfortunately, … Continue reading The Death of Britannicus, by Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol (c. 1785–1861)