Consul Titus Manlius Torquatus Orders the Beheading of his Son

Unknown artist

This picture was painted for the headquarters of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. It represents a story from Roman times in which a consul condemns his son to be beheaded for ignoring a command. The Admiralty intended this image to proclaim that insubordination would be severely punished. It also reminded officers that they must always remain impartial.