Faustina Augusta · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Faustina Augusta
Subject: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Important Women; Famous Women; Gladiators; Adultery; Faustina Augusta
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This engraving depicts Faustina Augusta, the wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, on the right side of the image lying in a bed. There is a doctor hovering over her body while rubbing an ointment over her chest to cure her illness. Her husband, Marcus Aurelius is standing behind the doctor. Faustina Augusta had fallen ill due to being passionately in love with a gladiator. The doctor suggested killing the gladiator and using his blood to cure her of her sickness and overwhelming lust for him. Marcus Aurelius is also depicted on the left side of the engraving wearing a crown and holding a scepter as he watches his men kill the gladiator that his wife was in love with. One of the men is holding a bowl underneath the gladiators wounds so they can use the blood to treat Faustina Augusta.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18235
Language: lat
Source Name: Iohannis Bocacij in librum de claris mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1487 Leuven; 1487 Leuven
Image: mta_18235_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Important Women; Famous Women; Gladiators; Adultery; Faustina Augusta