Why it matters
Spectators at the Colosseum, including the Vestals, turn their thumbs down to the victorious gladiator, while the defeated fighter raises two fingers to plead for mercy. The painting inspired the 2000 film Gladiator.
Did you know?
- It was painted in 1872.
- Alexander Turney Stewart bought it for a record 80,000 francs.
- Its use of the thumbs-down gesture sparked a controversy over accuracy.
Based on the Wikipedia article Pollice Verso (Gérôme) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
