Vlucht van Cloelia over de Tiber 1619

Cornelis van Kittensteyn made this engraving titled ‘Flight of Cloelia across the Tiber’ sometime in the 17th century. It depicts a scene from Roman history, but what might it have meant to viewers in the Dutch Republic? Here, the artist uses the classical past to explore ideas about virtue, courage, and the role of women in society. The story of Cloelia, who escaped as a hostage from an Etruscan camp, was particularly popular during this time of nation-building and state formation, as the Dutch were consolidating their new republic. The tale served as an exemplary model of the strength and resolve required for their own liberation from the Spanish. Moreover, the subject of a woman embodying such strength offered a commentary on gender roles within the Dutch Golden Age. By studying prints like this, we can understand more about the values and beliefs of people in the past. Museum collections, library archives, and digital resources provide the means to interpret such artwork within its social and institutional context.