Epitarre femme etrangere · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Epitarre femme etrangere
Subject: Famous Women; Freedwomen; Epicharis; Conspiracies; Emperor Nero; Torture; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Italy; Ancient Rome
Description: This illumination depicts the freedwoman Epicharis sitting down will spinning wool. Epicharis was a famous freedwoman who bravely endured torture for information regarding a conspiracy to overthrow Emperor Nero. Epicharis endured torture without giving the names of any of the other conspirators. Epicharis hung herself after being tortured twice, as she was scared that she would reveal the names of the conspirators if she were to be tortured again. Boccaccio explains that she is praiseworthy for her bravery and manly resilience.
Image Creator: Robinet Testard (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:18100
Language: frm
Source Name: Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme [Boccaccio, The cleric and noble women, anonymous French translation]
Parent Collection: Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme. Illuminations by Robinet Testard (1488-1496); Boccace, Des cleres et nobles femmes, traduction française anonyme. Illuminations by Robinet Testard (1488-1496)
Image: mta_18100_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Famous Women; Freedwomen; Epicharis; Conspiracies; Emperor Nero; Torture; Important Women