Cornelia Africana 1785

"Cornelia Africana" is an oil painting created in 1785 by Angelica Kauffmann, a prominent artist of the late 18th century. The work depicts the Roman matron Cornelia, renowned for her virtue and her role in shaping the Roman Republic. She is shown with her three children, rejecting a display of jewels offered by a woman in favor of showcasing her children as her true treasures. This Neoclassical composition is a celebration of Roman values and the importance of motherhood. It was likely commissioned by a wealthy patron who admired Cornelia's story.