A very beautiful and extremely Rare snuff box depicting the famous fabel/legend of Roman Charity. The story goes that a Man, Cimon (Father) was caught stealing a loaf of bread and sentenced to death by hunger, chained up in his prison cell. His Daughter, Pero, was allowed to visit him but only if the guards searched Her so she couldn’t take in food. As legend has it the guards were mystified as to why Cimon was not becoming weaker. The guards decided to watch when Pero visited and saw her Breastfeeding her own Father. Such was the feeling of the love between Father and Daughter that the guards saw it was decided to free him. There are many depictions through history of this fable right from Roman times when the story started. hence the name ‘Roman Charity’. Many painters have also studied the subject and indeed Ruben painted no fewer than nine different versions of the subject along with many other painters such as Rembrandt and Pieter Van Mol. This beautiful deep relief pressed and carved snuff box dating from 1760-80 is lined in Tortoiseshell and has has engine machined back. Rare survivor and a collectors pice , it carries a rich patina and is totally original throughout.
A very beautiful and extremely Rare snuff box depicting the famous fabel/legend of Roman Charity. The story goes that a Man, Cimon (Father) was caught stealing a loaf of bread and sentenced to death by hunger, chained up in his prison cell. His Daughter, Pero, was allowed to visit him but only if the guards searched Her so she couldn’t take in food. As legend has it the guards were mystified as to why Cimon was not becoming weaker. The guards decided to watch when Pero visited and saw her Breastfeeding her own Father. Such was the feeling of the love between Father and Daughter that the guards saw it was decided to free him. There are many depictions through history of this fable right from Roman times when the story started. hence the name ‘Roman Charity’. Many painters have also studied the subject and indeed Ruben painted no fewer than nine different versions of the subject along with many other painters such as Rembrandt and Pieter Van Mol. This beautiful deep relief pressed and carved snuff box dating from 1760-80 is lined in Tortoiseshell and has has engine machined back. Rare survivor and a collectors pice , it carries a rich patina and is totally original throughout.
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