Artwork
Cimon and Pero (Roman Charity)
Cimon and Pero (Roman Charity) is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Peter Paul Rubens painted Cimon and Pero in 1630 using oil on canvas. The work is presently housed in the Siegerlandmuseum in Siegen, Germany. It revisits the classical motif of Roman Charity, a theme Rubens had already explored in an earlier version dated around 1612.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the elderly Cimon, bearded and seated on a rock, receiving sustenance from his daughter Pero, who leans against him in a vivid red dress. The scene illustrates the ancient tale of filial piety, where Pero secretly breastfeeds her imprisoned father to keep him alive.
Technique & Style
Rubens employs a restrained palette, contrasting the bright red of Pero’s garment with the muted tones of the background. Soft, blended brushstrokes render the folds of the dress and the flesh of the figures, while a subtle chiaroscuro model gives depth to the rocky wall and the reflective surface behind them.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Siegerlandmuseum, where it remains on display. Its existence confirms Rubens’s continued interest in the Roman Charity narrative, linking it to his earlier, less mature treatment of the subject from the early 1610s.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch: ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
