Large Italian painting from the 17th century. Oil painting on canvas depicting a subject taken from a story by the Roman historian Valerius Maximus. It is a story of an exemplary woman, Pero, who secretly breastfeeds her father, Cimone, who is imprisoned and sentenced to death by starvation. She is discovered but her act of generosity so impresses the officials that they release her father. It represents a great act of pietas (filial generosity) and Roman honour. A painting of the Neapolitan school and excellent pictorial quality, particularly noticeable in the realisation of the flesh tones and the use of the chiaroscuro technique to make the figures emerge from the darkness of the background. Elegant non-coeval antique frame in carved and gilded wood, with small gilding gaps (see photo). Work that has undergone restoration with re-staining, replacement of the frame and repainting in some small places. Overall in good state of preservation. Light painting H 115 x W 87 cm.