1844 - 1927

1863 - 1871 Vasily Polenov took lessons in painting from P. Chistiakov and I. Kramskoi at the Petersburg Academy of Arts. During 1872 - 1876 He lived in Paris on a scholarship from the Academy. The same year he became a member of it. 1877 Polenov spent in Moscow and then moved to Borok estate in the Tula Province. The artist became a member of the Circle of the Itinerants where he took part in the exhibitions. He also had connections with S. Mamontov's Abramtsevo Art Circle.
1882 -1895 Polenov was a teacher at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture. In 1910 the Artist organized the first Moscow Folk Theater. During these years he traveled to Western Europe, Near East and Greece, searching for the painting subjects.
Vasily Polenov depicted genre scenes, historical, biblical, and landscape paintings. He also worked as a scenic designer for the theater.

On this canvas Polenov made a statement against ignorance and violence, cruelty and inhumanity, depicting this story of ancient Rome.