Cimon en Pero (Caritas Romana) 1659

Moses ter Borch made this ink drawing, Cimon en Pero, sometime in the 17th century. The image illustrates a story known as Roman Charity. Here, a young woman, Pero, is depicted breastfeeding her father, Cimon, who has been imprisoned and sentenced to death by starvation. This subject was often painted in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, where it was used as an example of Christian charity and filial devotion. Ter Borch’s subdued rendering contrasts strongly with the dramatic, Baroque interpretations of his contemporaries. Yet his choice of subject points to the importance of the family as a key social institution. In its emphasis on self-sacrifice, the image also reflects the religious values that underpinned Dutch society at this time. As art historians, we might look to period writings, such as Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia, to better understand the image’s symbolic meaning and its reception by contemporary audiences. In this way, we can gain deeper insights into the social and institutional contexts that shaped the artist's vision.