Although known primarily for his painting, Gérôme created a number of sculptural works in the course of his career. Working mainly in bronze and marble, he also experimented with a wide range of less traditional materials, such as ivory, gemstones, and paste. Dressed in simple armor, a gladiator stands at attention. The trident he holds in his left hand and the net draped over his right shoulder are his weapons of combat. Gérôme is thought to have based the figure on a second-century Roman bronze in the collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.