Lavinia der Künigin Laurentum · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Lavinia der Künigin Laurentum
Subject: Lavinia; Aeneas; Ascanius; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Mythology; Roman Mythology
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Laurentum; Italy
Description: This engraving depicts Lavinia, the wife of Aeneas and queen of Laurentum, hiding in the forest with her baby in fear of her stepson, Ascanius. She is illustrated lying on her side and resting her head into her hand as she looks down at her child. Boccaccio explains that after Aeneas died, Lavinia fled to the forest as she was afraid that her stepson would kill her and her newborn son, Silvius. Lavinia was wrong, and Ascanius voluntarily gave the kingdom of Laurentum back to her and helped raise Silvius. Ascanius is pictured on the right side of the engraving with his hand touching a young Silvius’ face with brotherly affection. Silvius is illustrated holding a bow in the air.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18334
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18334_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Lavinia; Aeneas; Ascanius; Important Women; Famous Women; Greek Mythology; Roman Mythology