De Lavinia laurentum regia · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De Lavinia laurentum regia
Subject: Lavinia; Aeneas; Greek Mythology; Roman Mythology; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Laurentum
Description: This engraving depicts Lavinia, wife of Aeneas and queen of Laurentum, hiding in the forest in fear of her step-son, Ascanius. Lavinia had given birth to a son who she named Silvius. Boccaccio explains that after Aeneas died, Lavinia fled to the forest as she was afraid that her step-son, Ascanius, would kill her. Lavinia was wrong, and Ascanius voluntarily gave the kingdom of Laurentum back to her and helped raise Silvius. Lavinia’s name is engraved at the top of the illustration, and Silvius’ name is engraved below his body at the bottom of the engraving. Ascanius is pictured on the left-hand side of the engraving with his hand touching a young Silvius’ face with brotherly affection.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:11949
Language: lat
Source Name: De Claris Mulieribus
Parent Collection: 1473 Ulm
Image: mta_11949_OBJ.png