Cornelia Africana and the Stories of Ancient Roman Womanhood
One of the many celebrated paintings by Swiss painter Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) is titled “Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi”. Conveying the message of the importance of family above all else, the painting depicts a Roman woman and her three children. The woman, Cornelia, is portrayed as having a conversation with another Roman woman who is sitting with a box of jewelry on her lap. This woman holds up a necklace and looks at Cornelia, as if asking for her opinion. Seemingly giving her an answer, Cornelia points to her young sons on her right, indicating that they are as valuable, if not more, than her jewels. Meanwhile, Cornelia’s young daughter, Sempronia, does not appear to have mastered this lesson yet as she is clearly drawn to the bright items in the woman’s lap.
This painting is based on a story written by Valerius Maximus, a first-century Roman writer who compiled a collection of anecdotes in Dictorum Factorumque Memorabilium Libri IX (“Book of nine memorable deeds and sayings”). The book provides an incident from Cornelia’s life where she entertained a patrician woman who flaunted her expensive jewelry. In response, Cornelia pointed to her children and said, “here are my treasures”.
The subject of the painting is Cornelia Africana, a Roman woman well-known for her devotion to her family. Widely regarded as the perfect Roman lady, Cornelia’s portrayal in Roman history is a model of Roman womanhood valued for her stoicism, domestic administrative ability, and her upholding of traditional Roman ideals. Her sons, Tiberius and Gaius Semproneus Gracchus (widely known as “the Gracchi”), went on to become significant social reformers in the Roman society.
Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, by Angelica Kauffmann ca. 1788. (Public Domain)
Cornelia’s Life, Family and Politics
Born around 190 BC, Cornelia was the second daughter and fourth surviving child of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (c.236-c.183 BC), who is regarded as one of history’s finest military leaders and strategists when he defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. This triumph gave him the moniker “Africanus”.
By Martini Fisher
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