Sigismunda met het hart van Guiscardo c. 1750 - 1765

James McArdell created this mezzotint, Sigismunda with the Heart of Guiscardo, in the mid-18th century. This was a period where women were often portrayed through the lens of male desire or moral instruction. Based on a story from Boccaccio's *Decameron*, Sigismunda is shown with the heart of her lover, Guiscardo, whom her father has murdered. Note her languid pose, in partial undress, which contrasts with the horror of the heart on the plate before her. McArdell, working in a patriarchal society, here depicts a woman's emotional and physical vulnerability. Consider how the image invites viewers to contemplate themes of love, death, and power. The image can be seen as a commentary on the limited agency women possessed, and how their stories were often framed within the context of male actions and desires. The pathos in Sigismunda’s face forces us to confront the violence enacted upon her and her lover.