Picturing Infants and Families in Roman Art

The focus of Chapter 5 is on visual images of infants and very young children. A variety of media and formats are considered, including portrayals of children in marble reliefs and on coins and objects of personal adornment. The chapter discusses the introduction and development of the motifs of birth, breast-feeding and baby-care with parents, wet-nurses and others, images that give us insight into family life and the socialization of children. The chapter also explores the ways in which Italian children and barbarian offspring are represented in Roman art.