De Leaena Meritrice · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture · Center for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Leaena Meritrice
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Rome; Italy
Description: This engraving depicts the prostitute Leaena being tortured for information regarding a conspiracy. She is depicted with her hands bound by rope, which is attached to some sort of torturing device that a man is controlling. There are three other figures standing in front of her participating in her torture. Boccaccio explains that she is being tortured for being involved in a conspiracy to overthrow a tyrant. In order to avoid revealing information to those torturing her, she bites off her own tongue.
Image Creator: Jakob Kallenberg (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut engraving
Identifier: mta:26233
Language: lat
Source Name: Ioannis Boccatii de Certaldo Insigne Opvs de Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1539 Apiarius; 1539 Apiarius
Image: mta_26233_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Leaena; Important Women; Famous Women; Prostitution