Horatius Cocles holding the bridge over the Tiber against invading Etruscans. Line engraving by P. Tanjé after N. Verkolje after G. de Lairesse.

The Roman soldiers below are hacking at the bridge, leaving Horatius stranded on the outer side. The subject was regarded as a model of self-sacrifice by the citizens for the state, hence the painting of it by De Lairesse in a council chamber in the Binnenhof, The Hague