The Russian Museum

H. Marinali. Early 18th century

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus (4 BC-AD 65) was an ancient Roman stoic philosopher and the tutor of Emperor Nero. Being a man of strong character himself, Seneca advocated moral strictness and selflessness, the features he failed to instil in his pupil. Seneca was accused of participation in a plot, and had to commit suicide by order of the Emperor. He took poison.