Faustina de Jongere 1620 - 1664

This etching of Faustina the Younger was made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century. The figure of Faustina is presented to us as ‘impudique’, shameless. This label comes from the narrative inscribed beneath, telling of her lust for a gladiator and her shocking declaration to her husband. Look at the sensuous drape of her garments. We see echoes here of Venus Pudica, the modest Venus, who covers her breasts, a motif that originated in the 4th century BC. Here, however, the protective gesture is subverted. Faustina’s clinging gown accentuates rather than conceals her figure. The emotional power of this transformation, from modesty to shamelessness, is a testament to how cultural memory reshapes and reinterprets ancient symbols. The image, steeped in classical allusion yet imbued with a transgressive spirit, embodies how symbols constantly resurface and are transformed across time.