Cornelia, Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures

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Cornelia, Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures by Angelica Kauffman Angelica Kauffman, Swiss born, was a Neoclassical female artist whom was trained by her father. Kauffman spent six years of her life in Italy before settling in London in 1768. Two years later she was elected a full member of the British Royal Academy. She was the last woman to be so honored until the 1920’s. In 1785, Angelica created Cornelia, Pointing to Her Children As Her Treasures, which was a great art work in my opinion. In this painting, Cornelia is at the center of the work, talking with a friend seated at the right. The woman in red is showing Cornelia (the woman in white) all of her material possessions that she has accumulated from her husband’s world travels. After the woman in red finishes boasting, she questions Cornelia on what treasures she holds. Cornelia responds by beckoning her three children and explaining that they are her most beloved treasures. Her response draws attention to the woman in red’s foolish ideals of vanity and materialism. The colors in this piece are used symbolically. Cornelia, showed in white, symbolizing purity. The red dress depicts a feeling of passion. The little girl is adorned in pink, a color between the red and white, because she is still innocent and pure but age causes her to be infatuated with shiny things such as the woman’s gold and shiny pieces. She is too young to develop a wisdom that has value beyond material possessions. Cornelia and her children were historical Roman figures. She was a widow who lived to train and educate her children and was thought very highly of as a wise noble matron. She had many suitors but enjoyed not being married because she enjoyed the freedom of watching over her children. She trained her children to be moral, righteous, and develop love for their country. The neoclassical style portrayed in this art

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