Gravelot's design is preparatory for an engraved frontispiece to Volume IX of Charles Rollin's "The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, and Persians..." (London, 1738-40). The 2nd century BC Roman consul and conqueror of Macedonia, Paulus Emilius, is shown seated in his tent, surrounded by soldiers; before him sits Perseus, his shoulders slumped in defeat. The engraving, signed "H. Gravelot inv.del. et sculp.", bears the date February 16, 1740.
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. 2; reproduced plate 1b.