Cloelia ontsnapt uit het kamp van Porsenna 1553 - 1554

Pierre Milan created this engraving, "Cloelia Escapes from the Camp of Porsenna," sometime between 1537 and 1540, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The scene is filled with active figures set within an intricate landscape, creating a dynamic visual experience. Milan's composition is structured by diagonal lines that guide the eye from the lower left, where reclining figures are placed, to the upper right, where a crowd of women stand near a wooded area. This arrangement divides the scene into zones of captivity and freedom, with the river serving as a liminal space between them. The use of light and shadow enhances the sense of depth, highlighting the dramatic action. The engraving uses a semiotic system where classical motifs signify virtue and civic duty. The river can be interpreted as a boundary and test, which Cloelia and her companions bravely cross. This piece reflects broader Renaissance interests in classical history and moral fortitude, inviting ongoing interpretation of its visual and cultural codes.