Daniel Ridgeway Knight (American 1839-1924), oil on canvas portrait of Belisarius and a young child clasping hands beneath a banner inscribed Date Obolum Belisario (Give an obolus to Belisarius), signed lower left, 30'' x 25''. According to tradition the Byzantine general Flavius Belisarius, after a lifetime of achievement, was reduced to a blind beggar by emperor Justinian, and was condemned to sit at the Pincian gate of Rome and utter this phrase to passers by. The story gained traction in the 18th century as many saw parallels between the actions of Justinian and contemporary rulers. Provenance: Descended in the family of Matthew Baird (1817-1877). Exhibited: #646 at the 35th Annual Exhibition of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1858. Frame is a period replacement. Relined. 1 1/2" repair right of head/face. 1" repair left edge. Loss to bottom left corner. Two small repaired punctures to beard. A few other small touch ups. Provenance: Descended in the family of Matthew Baird (1817-1877). Exhibited: #646 at the 35th Annual Exhibition of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1858.