Marcus Curtius' death Roman heroes (series title); Round; lead plaque; surrounded by a leaf edge. In the foreground the hero plunges on horseback and in full armor into the fiery canyon that had opened on the Roman Forum. The fortune-tellers had predicted that great calamity would come over the city if not the most valuable of Rome were sacrificed. Marcus Curtius; who regarded the courage of the Romans and their weapons as their most precious possession; thus offered himself a sacrifice; after which the gap closed. On the far left a figure raises the hands full of terror; to the right a group of five figures and a little further to the second plan three women. Many architectures with towers and obelisks; which must indicate the city of Rome. In the background fantastic bergenter on either side of a bridged river.; Adam van Vianen (I); Netherlands; c. 1600; founding; d 17 cm x w 347 gr