Artwork
Cimon alăptat în temniță de fiica sa, Pera
Cimon alăptat în temniță de fiica sa, Pera is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist școala de la Roma anonim italian. It is held in the collection of the Brukenthal National Museum. The image depicts an elderly, rag‑clad man seated in a dimly lit prison cell, nursing from his daughter’s breast.
About this work
Overview
The image depicts an elderly, rag‑clad man seated in a dimly lit prison cell, nursing from his daughter’s breast. The young woman kneels beside him, her face illuminated partially by a single torch, while a modest loaf of bread rests on the floor, suggesting the scarcity of sustenance for both.
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the stark realities of poverty and familial responsibility rather than any miraculous or biblical narrative. By focusing on the intimate act of feeding, the work highlights the bond between parent and child amid deprivation, inviting contemplation of duty and survival in harsh conditions.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between the torch‑lit figures and the surrounding darkness to create a sense of three‑dimensionality and immediacy. The subdued palette and careful modeling of light give the scene a realistic, unidealized quality, reinforcing the gravity of the depicted circumstances.
Context
Unlike typical religious art that dramatizes divine intervention, this piece situates its subjects in a mundane, oppressive environment—a jail cell—underscoring human vulnerability. The inclusion of a single loaf of bread further accentuates the minimal resources available, situating the work within a tradition of social realism.
Artist & collection
