Faustulus and Merentia Discover Romulus and Remus n.d.

This pen and brown ink drawing depicts the moment when Faustulus and Merentia discover the infants Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf. It’s an image about the founding of Rome, and therefore loaded with meaning for Italian culture. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. This subject was especially resonant in the Renaissance, when humanist scholars looked back to classical antiquity for models of civic virtue. Here, Romulus and Remus are presented as symbols of Rome's legendary origins and values, such as courage and resilience. The image subtly suggests Rome's rise to greatness. The politics of imagery are central here. Renaissance artists operated within a network of patronage, and their choices often reflected the interests of their commissioners. An image such as this was not just an aesthetic statement but a declaration of cultural and political allegiance. By studying account books, letters, and other archival materials, historians reconstruct the conditions under which art was produced and consumed.