Gaius Mucius Scaevola's ordeal by fire: Gaius Mucius is holding his outstretched arm over the fire blazing in a cauldron before the king, watched by a crowd of soldiers. Etching by J. Goupy, 1726.

This etching shows G. Mucius thrusting his left hand into the fire, whereas according to the legend it should be the right hand (Livy, De urbe condita II.13 "dextramque accenso ad sacrificium foculo inicit"). The inconsistency is presumably due to the reversal of the composition in the etching process

Gaius Mucius Scaevola stole into Lars Porsenna's camp in an attempt to assassinate him, but by mistake killed his secretary instead. On being arrested, he showed his indifference to the prospect of torture by thrusting his right hand into a fire, hence his surname Scaevola (left-handed)

[London] : [publisher not identified], 1726.

1 print : etching, with engraving ; image 35.6 x 41.7 cm

Romanus sum civis. Caium Mutium vocant. Hostis hostem occidere volui. nec ad mortem minus est animi quam ad coedem fuit. et facere, et pati fortia, Romanum est. T.Liv. Lib.2. Inventio sculptoris pinxit in gratiam Dni. Johannis Taylor &c. de Bifrons in comitatu Cantii. Jos. Goupy Londini fecit Further lettering within the print (on the shield of a guard): Jos. Goupy inv. pinx. scul. Londini MDCCXXVI

Wellcome Collection 42552i