De Faustina Augusta cathonis coniuge · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Faustina Augusta cathonis coniuge
Subject: Famous Women; Faustina Augusta; Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Gladiators; Lust; Adultery; Important Women
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 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, and her husband Marcus Aurelius sought the help of a doctor. 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 left 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:16702
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_16702_OBJ.jpg