School of Luca Giordano (1632/34 - 1705) Large 3/4 length portrait of Roman Philosopher Annaeus Seneca. Sight Size: 51.75 x 37.5 in. Overall Size: 62 x 47.5 inches. Museum quality 17th century painting of roman philosopher Annaeus Seneca – a philosopher, playwright, orator, and moralist – was born in the Spanish city of Cordoba in 4 BCE, and was executed in 65 BCE. His period of activity coincided with the rule of three Roman emperors – Caligula, Claudius, and Nero – with all of whom he quarreled. He was initially caught having a love affair with Caligula's sister; he then published a satirical text on the tendency of Romanemperors in general, and of Claudius in particular, to regard themselves as gods; finally, he was implicated in the Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero. For this he was sentenced to death, and commanded to "remove himself from the world"– in other words, to commit suicide. Seneca accepted this death sentence with total equanimity. The Roman historian Tacitus recounts that Seneca slashed his veins with his own hands. restored relined, in 1970's by Bernard Rabin Conservation Studio Inc. Newark NJ.