[The Roman Woman Sempronia Embracing a Man] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [The Roman Woman Sempronia Embracing a Man]
Period: 1400-1450;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This illumination depicts a Roman woman named Sempronia embracing a man. Boccaccio explains that Sempronia was incredibly skilled at dancing and singing and would charm anyone that would hear her music abilities. There are harps and lyres depicted on the table behind her to signify her musical abilities. Sempronia was also known to be lustful and seek out the company men, which is why she is embracing a man in this image.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:18504
Language: frm
Source Name: Livre que fist Jehan BOCACE de Certalde des cleres et nobles femmes, lequel il envoia à Audice de Accioroles de Florence, contesse de Haulteville [Book from Giovanni Boccaccio of Certaldo called the cleric and noble women, of which he sent to Audice Accioroles of Florence, Countess of Haulteville]
Parent Collection: 1401 Florence; 1401 Florence
Image: mta_18504_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Important Women; Famous Women; Harp; Music; Sempronia