About the artwork:

"Pollice Verso," painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris in 1872, vividly captures the moment in a Roman gladiatorial arena where the fate of the defeated gladiator hangs in the balance. The title refers to the "turned thumb" gesture used by spectators to signal death. Ferris’s meticulous attention to historical detail and dramatic composition immerses the viewer in the intense, bloodthirsty atmosphere of ancient Rome, showcasing the power and cruelty of the crowd.