Veturia aan de voeten van Coriolanus c. 1595 - 1654

Theodoor Galle made this engraving, Veturia aan de voeten van Coriolanus, in the Netherlands around the turn of the 17th century. It depicts a story from Roman history, a moment when Coriolanus was about to attack Rome, but was stopped by his mother, Veturia. The image encapsulates the social and political values of the time, reflecting the importance of family, duty, and the role of women in society. Galle uses visual codes to convey these messages. Notice the contrast between the stern, masculine figure of Coriolanus and the pleading, feminine figures of his mother and wife. This was a period in which powerful institutions like the church, state and family, used historical and religious imagery to shape the behaviors of men and women. For a deeper understanding, one might research the role of classical literature in shaping early modern European social and political thought. The study of prints and engravings also sheds light on the circulation of ideas and the formation of public opinion during this time. Ultimately, this work speaks to how art engages with, and sometimes challenges, the social structures of its time.