Von Faustina, marci Anthonini des gütigen gemahel

Title

Von Faustina, marci Anthonini des gütigen gemahel

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 left side of the engraving lying in a bed. The creator engraved her name above her head to identify her. 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 Antoninus is depicted on the right side of the engraving wearing a crown and holding a scepter as he watches his men kill the gladiator 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:18066

Language

ger

Source Name

Hyenach volget der kurcz syn von ettlichen frauen von denen johannes boccacius in latein beschriben hat und doctor heinricus stainhöwel geteütschet [Following the short stories of several women of which Giovanni Boccaccio wrote in Latin, and doctor Heinrich Steinhöwel translated]

Parent Collection

1473 Augsburg

Image

mta_18066_OBJ.png