Agrippina the Elder (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
This woman of heroic spirit assumed the duties of a general in those days. —Tacitus
This posthumous portrait shows a youthful Vipsania Agrippina (14 BC–AD 33) as Flora, goddess of spring. Many posthumous portraits of Rome’s ruling family, the Julio-Claudians, were created during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41–54) in order to strengthen his position. Agrippina, the granddaughter of Augustus and wife of the popular general Germanicus, was a key figure in the internal politics of the Julio-Claudians. Her children included Emperor Gaius (“Caligula,” reigned 37–41) and Agrippina the Younger, Claudius’s fourth wife and the mother of Emperor Nero (reigned 54–68). Emperor Tiberius (reigned 14–37) saw her popularity as a threat and exiled herto a small island, where she starved herself to death.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
