bare breasted crouching woman at left, holding her PR breast to the mouth of a bearded man seated in front of her, with shackled ankles; woman has her PL arm around shoulder of man; man leans against column; text on column and at bottom: "CZINMON" at bottom, "ICH LEB VON DER BRVST MEINER DOCHTER" at right

Cimon and Pero, 1544

Engravingexpand_more

Anonymous giftexpand_more  2018.96.26

Not on Viewexpand_more

This type of image is called Roman Charity. It is based on a story related by Valerius Maximus, who was active the second to fourth decades C.E. Cimon was a man imprisoned and condemned to death by starvation. His adult daughter saved his life by secretly breastfeeding him. This act was considered an honorable expression of the greatest love for one’s elders. The vertical German inscription may be translated as “I live from the breast of my daughter.”

Details
Title
Cimon and Pero
Artist Life
1500–1550
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2018.96.26
Provenance
John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn. (until d. 2012); by descent to his daughter, Julie Andrus, Minneapolis, Minn. (2012–18; given to Mia)
Catalogue Raisonne
Bartsch 75. Pauli 79 iii
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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bare breasted crouching woman at left, holding her PR breast to the mouth of a bearded man seated in front of her, with shackled ankles; woman has her PL arm around shoulder of man; man leans against column; text on column and at bottom: "CZINMON" at bottom, "ICH LEB VON DER BRVST MEINER DOCHTER" at right