Men building Hadrian's wall, being reprimanded by a Roman centurion. Photograph after W.B. Scott.

Composition known as : The Romans cause a wall to be built for the protection of the south

"The background of the picture represents Crag Lough, a high basalt cliff shown with the wall stretching off into the distance along its ridge. The wall is being constructed by a team of men drawn from all areas of the Roman Empire. In the foreground a centurion confronts two workers who have stopped to boil water and are trying to conceal a game of dice. Some of the figures are portraits of recognisable local personalities; one of the soldiers on the rampart is Dr. Bruce, a great authority on the Wall, and the centurion is John Clayton who purchased large tracts to protect them from being torn down for building stone during the 19th century"--National Trust website

On the right side (Scotland), men shoot arrows at the people on the wall, encouraged by a woman who bears her breasts; the Romans shoot back. On the left side (England), a Roman officer conducts a sacrifice to Hercules before his soldiers who stand in formation; ploughs and a chariot are shown, and two young women bring bread for the builders, indicating peace and prosperity on the English side under Roman rule

[19--?]

1 photograph : photoprint, toned in brown ; sheet 36.1 x 36.1 cm

The painting is signed and dated: W B Scott Jan to June 1857

The series of eight paintings was "commissioned in 1855 by Sir Walter Trevelyan to decorate the courtyard at Wallington; began in 1857 and the series was exhibited at regular intervals at the Literary Society in Newcastle and completed in 1861 ... [they were] given with the property to The National Trust in 1941 by Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, 3rd Bt (1870–1958)"--National Trust website

Wellcome Collection 3154415i

After one of eight oil paintings illustrating the history of the English Border with Scotland painted between 1856 and 1861