Roman Charity (Cimon and Pero)
- Catalog
- WD-031
- Artist
- Willem Drost
- Year
- 1655–57
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 149 × 104 cm
- Location
- Private Collection
Description
A dramatic rendering of the classical story of Cimon and Pero — also known as Roman Charity — in which the daughter Pero secretly breastfeeds her imprisoned father Cimon to save him from starvation. The theme of filial piety was popular in Baroque painting.
Analysis
This large-scale history painting demonstrates Drost's ambition to work in the grand manner during his Italian period. The tenebrist style — with deep shadows and dramatic spotlighting — derives from Jusepe de Ribera's example, transmitted via the Venetian Tenebrosi with whom Drost associated. The intimate physical proximity of the figures and the psychological tension of the scene showcase Drost's mastery of complex narrative painting. Cataloged by Jonathan Bikker as an undisputed work.
Historical Context
Painted between 1655 and 1657, during Drost's Italian sojourn. The subject of Roman Charity (Caritas Romana) was a popular theme in Baroque art, celebrated for its dramatic depiction of filial piety. Drost's version is notable for its large scale (149 × 104 cm) and its psychological intensity. During this period, Rembrandt's bankruptcy proceedings were unfolding in Amsterdam (1656–1658), and his vast collection was being dispersed.