Lot 203: John Robert Cozens 1752-1799 , Tomb of the Horatii and Curatii at Albano

numbered on the mount l.c.: 75 and inscribed with title on the reverse of mount watercolour over pencil with pen and grey ink, in original washline mount

26 by 37.5 cm.; 10 1/4 by 14 3/4 in.

C.F. Bell and T. Girtin, 'The Sketches and Drawings of John Robert Cozens,' Walpole Society, vol. XXIII, 1935, p. 73, no. 375

William Beckford, his sale, 10th April 1805, lot 75, the evidence for this arises from the number 75 on the mount (see. note);
Frank W. Keen, his sale, Christie's London, 10 November 1933, lot 108;
Pierre Jeannerat, O.B.E., his sale in these Rooms, 15th March 1984, lot 104;
Anonymous sale in these Rooms, 14 July, 1988, lot 68

The Tomb of the Horatii and Curatii is located on the Via Appia, near Rome. Ancient legend informs us that the Horattii were a set of male triplets from Rome, while the Curatii were male triplets from Alba Longa. During a war between Rome and Alba Longa, it was agreed that settlement of the war would depend on the outcome of a battle between the Horatii and the Curatii. In the battle, the three Curatii were wounded, but two of the Horatii were killed. The last of the Horatii turned to flee. The Curiatii chased him, but because they were wounded, they became separated from one another, which allowed the Horatii to slay them one by one. Their tomb was a site often visited by Grand Tourists in Cozen's time. The number 75 written on the mount of this watercolour indicates that it was the Cozens of the same subject which was sold in the Beckford sale on 10th April 1805, lot 75 (see Provenance). However, it remains different in one respect from the description in the Walpole Society article by Bell and Girtin (see: lit. op. cit., 1935, p. 73, no. 375). That states that the square podium has five cones; in all other respects the description fits the present drawing.


The Tomb of the Horatii and Curatii is located on the Via Appia, near Rome. Ancient legend informs us that the Horattii were a set of male triplets from Rome, while the Curatii were male triplets from Alba Longa. During a war between Rome and Alba Longa, it was agreed that settlement of the war would depend on the outcome of a battle between the Horatii and the Curatii. In the battle, the three Curatii were wounded, but two of the Horatii were killed. The last of the Horatii turned to flee. The Curiatii chased him, but because they were wounded, they became separated from one another, which allowed the Horatii to slay them one by one. Their tomb was a site often visited by Grand Tourists in Cozen's time.