Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, Pointing to her Children as Her Treasures, Angelica Kauffman, circa 1785

This is a painting I learned about by taking notes for Richard's class (part of my assistantship).

The woman in red is showing the woman standing in white (Cornelia) all of the things her husband has brought back for her from his worldly travels...pearls, rings, necklaces, etc. After she is finished bragging about how many treasures she owns she turns to Cornelia and asks her, "So what treasures to you have?"

Cornelia replies by asking for her children to come to her and says, "Here are my treasures." Cornelia is pointing out the foolishness and vanity of the materialism of this woman by showing what really matters, her children.

The red the woman is wearing symbolizes passion, while the white that Cornelia wears symbolizes purity. Cornelia's daughter is between the two women and is fascinated by the sparkle of the things the foolish woman is showing as she picks up a piece of jewelry. The daughter is innocent and pure because she is a child, however her young age also causes her to be also attracted to things that shine. She does not yet have the wisdom to see value beyond materialistic things. Because the daughter is innocent and simultaneously attracted to beautiful objects, she is wearing a dress that is pink: mixing the red of passion and the white of innocence.