Valeria – The Moment Before
Size: 70 x 100 cm
Medium: Acrylic & Oil on Canvas
(includes Certificate of Authenticity, high-quality floating frame, packaging, a making-of video, and a handwritten thank-you note with personal dedication)
The Story Behind the Artwork
This painting is a tribute to the silent strength that precedes great battles. Inspired by the iconic scene in Gladiator, where Maximus lets sand fall through his fingers before stepping into the arena, I imagined a female gladiator—kneeling, grounded, centered—performing the same ritual. She is not hesitant, not broken. She is present. Calm before chaos. A warrior embracing the weight of the moment.
I named her Valeria, drawing inspiration from Gladiatrix—the rarely remembered but historically real female warriors of Ancient Rome. Women who defied societal expectations, entered the arena, and fought not only for survival but for dignity, recognition, and freedom. Though they were fewer in number, their existence is confirmed by inscriptions, reliefs, and accounts by Roman historians.
Valeria embodies all those unnamed women who stood in the dust of the amphitheater—strong, composed, aware of the cost of courage, yet choosing to fight nonetheless.
The Symbolism of the Painting
I wanted to depict Valeria in a moment of inward power—eyes closed, kneeling on a sunlit arena floor, as grains of golden sand fall gently from her hand. Her pose reflects a sacred pause. She is listening—to the silence before the storm, to her breath, to the weight of her choice.
Her braided hair speaks of care and preparation. Her bronze chest armor is both shield and sculpture—designed for strength but worn with grace. Her open Roman sandals root her to the earth. The golden and silver helmet beside her glows under the Roman sun. Every element is designed to reflect duality: fierceness and femininity, action and stillness, readiness and peace.
The deep red background is not just symbolic of blood or battle—it represents the emotional fire that drives her. Red is the color of life force, of purpose, of identity. It reminds us that behind every warrior is a human spirit that burns with meaning.
A Painting with Purpose
"Valeria – The Moment Before" is an homage to female warriors past and present—not only those in literal combat, but also the women who face battles in silence every day: in boardrooms, in households, in courts, in their own minds.
This painting is a call to honor the pause before the fight, to ground yourself before you act, and to recognize that true power often lies in stillness.
Exclusivity & Shipping
This original artwork comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, a professional-quality floating frame, and is accompanied by a making-of video that documents its creation.
Shipping within Switzerland is included in the price. For international deliveries, shipping costs will be calculated separately.
A Tribute to Strength, Grace & Presence
Valeria is every woman who has ever paused to breathe before speaking her truth.
She is a reminder that we do not always need to raise our voice to prove our power.
We only need to know who we are before we enter the arena.
“Strength is not always the battle cry. Sometimes, it is the silence before it.”