Caritas Romana 

Guercino’s "Caritas Romana" is an oil painting made sometime in the 17th century. It depicts a Roman woman, Pero, breastfeeding her father Cimon, who has been condemned to death by starvation. The artist’s method is to build up layers of thin paint, allowing light to penetrate and reflect from below. This technique gives the colors their luminosity. Look closely and you’ll see how Guercino has used the material qualities of oil paint to capture a range of textures, from the roughness of Cimon's beard to the smoothness of Pero's skin. The composition draws you in with its dramatic light and shadow effects, typical of Baroque painting. The story of Caritas Romana, or Roman Charity, has been told through the ages and celebrates filial devotion, as well as critiquing state authority. The chain restraining the old man reminds us that even basic sustenance can be denied by unjust laws. The artist challenges us to consider what truly sustains us, and to recognize the power of human connection.