Gravelot's design is preparatory for an engraved illustration in Volume I of Charles Rollin's “The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, and Persians..." (London, 1738-40). Hannibal is shown as a boy alongside his father, placing a small sword on an altar below a statue of Hercules; two women are shown at left and additional figures fill the hall or temple in the background. It was presumably made for the third edition published by J. and P. Knapton in London in 1749. There were numerous later editions of this important book on ancient history in which Gravelot's illustrations were used repeatedly.
Fourquevaux, Joseph de Beccarie de Pavie, marquis de, 1762-1841, former owner.
Bocher, Emmanuel, 1835-1919, former owner.
Olry-Roederer, Léon, 1869-1932, former owner.
Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, former owner.
Fleming, John F. (John Francis), 1910-1987, former owner.
Kraemer, Ruth S. "Drawings by Gravelot in the Morgan Library." Master drawings, XX (Spring 1982), p. 6, no. 3; reproduced plate 2.