The Discovery of Romulus and Remus (recto); Three Ancient Soldiers (verso) 1690 - 1700

Paolo Pagani created this ink drawing, "The Discovery of Romulus and Remus," around the turn of the 18th century. Pagani was working in a time when the establishment of national identity through myth and legend was very popular. Here, Pagani illustrates the legendary founders of Rome as infants being cared for by a she-wolf. The figures are idealized, their bodies rendered with a softness that belies the harsh circumstances of their abandonment. It’s interesting to note that in Roman mythology, the she-wolf, or lupa, has a double meaning, also referring to prostitutes, which adds another layer to the legend. This representation, steeped in the cultural and political contexts of its time, is charged with notions of survival and the making of a nation. Through the soft wash of ink, we see not just a mythological scene, but an exploration of identity, survival, and the complex narratives we construct about our origins.