The death of Virginia 

Vincenzo Camuccini made this pen and brown ink and brush with brown and gray wash drawing, titled ‘The Death of Virginia’, in the late 18th or early 19th century. The narrative unfolds in ancient Rome, amidst a patriarchal society where women's lives were tightly controlled by male relatives. At center we see Virginius, Virginia’s father, who is about to kill his daughter to save her from sexual exploitation. This drastic act becomes a political flashpoint, igniting public outrage against the ruling class. Camuccini’s interpretation emphasizes the tension between individual rights and the power of the state. The emotional weight of the scene is palpable, from the lifeless body of Virginia, to the stoic and determined Virginius. Camuccini, working during the Neoclassical period, was influenced by its emphasis on moral virtue, and the period's use of historical and mythological themes. The drawing captures the struggle for justice, making us reflect on how power dynamics and moral choices resonate across time.