Cimon and Pero (ca. 1630–1700)
Original title: Cimon and Pero
kurzbeschreibung
An unknown artist made the etching "Cimon and Pero" between about 1630 and 1700. It shows the well‑known scene of Roman Charity: a woman breastfeeding an older, bound man. The subject sits at the centre of the image, and the figures are modelled with fine hatching.
Description
Two people fill an interior hinted at only by vertical lines. On the left a woman in a robe, her hair tied in a knot, rests her hand on the shoulder of a seated man. He is barefoot, wears only trousers, and has a chain on his foot. Dense hatching creates the play of light and shadow, giving the figures and the space a textured surface.
Context
The theme of Roman Charity, also known as "Cimon and Pero", was highly popular in sixteenth- and seventeenth‑century European art and illustrated the virtue of mercy. This sheet is a reverse copy after an unidentified model, suggesting circulation through print. Such prints were often distributed as moral exempla in bound volumes or as single sheets.
Impact
The intimate closeness of the figures immediately stirs compassion in the viewer. The delicate linework and clear layout give the sheet a calm, dignified atmosphere that underscores the moral message.
Technique
This work is an etching: lines were scratched into an etched plate and then printed on paper. The technique allows fine, precise strokes, used here for the detailed rendering of the figures and the space. The sheet has been trimmed, which may point to later use as an illustration.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)