Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi 1788

Angelica Kauffmann's neoclassical painting presents a scene of austere grandeur achieved through its careful arrangement of figures and subtle use of color. The pale hues and classical drapery lend a sense of timeless moral instruction. The composition is structured around the contrast between material wealth and moral virtue. Note how Cornelia gestures towards her children as her most precious possessions rather than the jewels offered by her visitor. Kauffmann uses line and form to elevate the virtue of Cornelia and the importance of her role as a mother. The neoclassical style favored by Kauffmann reflected a desire to return to the perceived simplicity and order of the classical world. By setting this scene in ancient Rome, Kauffmann connects it to broader philosophical ideas about citizenship, education and republican values. She uses the formal elements of the painting to reflect these values. This artwork becomes a statement about the true riches found not in possessions but in the legacy of character and civic virtue passed on to future generations.