De Porcia: hija de Caton romano · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Porcia: hija de Caton romano
Subject: Portia; Brutus; Cassius; Assassination; Suicide; Important Women; Famous Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Rome; Italy
Description: This engraving depicts three separate events. The far right of the engraving depicts a man named Brutus having a discussion with his wife Portia. We know that these figures are Brutus and Portia as Portia’s name is engraved beside her body and Brutus’ name is engraved above his head. Brutus is telling his wife the conspiracy plan to kill Julius Caesar. After hearing the conspiracy plans, Portia took a barber’s razor and cut herself with it. The engraving depicts the barber’s razor sticking out of her foot. She does this to prepare herself in case she has to kill herself should the conspiracy not work out in Brutus’ favour. The centre of the engraving depicts the assassination of Julius Caesar. Brutus is on the left side of Caesar, stabbing him in the chest. A man named Cassius is behind Caesar as he stabs his abdominal area. Their names are engraved above their heads. The far left of the engraving depicts Portia eating burning hot coals from the fire directly beside her after hearing of her husband’s death.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:16715
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres; 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_16715_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Portia; Brutus; Cassius; Assassination; Suicide; Important Women; Famous Women

Media: mta_16715_OBJ.png