Faustulus brengt Romulus en Remus naar zijn vrouw 1782 - 1817

This engraving by Alexis Chataigner depicts Faustulus bringing Romulus and Remus to his wife, and offers us a glimpse into the ways in which classical narratives were reimagined in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Chataigner was working in a revolutionary time in France, one that was marked by shifting ideas about family, citizenship, and the role of women in society. Here we see the legendary founders of Rome as infants, saved and nurtured by a common shepherd and his wife. Consider the implications of this domestic scene: two women, presumably of different social status, united in the act of nurturing future leaders. It challenges traditional, patriarchal narratives of heroism and power. The emotional heart of the story lies not in grand battles or political intrigue, but in the quiet, intimate act of caregiving. The image reflects the growing emphasis on domesticity and the moral authority of women, while subtly questioning the established social order. It invites us to reflect on the values we associate with leadership and the often-overlooked contributions of women in shaping history.