Artwork Page for The Death of Sophonisba

Details / Information for The Death of Sophonisba

The Death of Sophonisba

c. 1810

attributed to Pierre Guérin

(French, 1774–1833)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 52 x 80 x 7 cm (20 1/2 x 31 1/2 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 40 x 60 cm (15 3/4 x 23 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Jacques de Caso in memory of Alice Cagliostro and Domenick Cagliostro 2008.71
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
202 French Neoclassical Decorative Arts
Print
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Did You Know?

The story of Sophonisba has been an inspiration to artists, writers, and even filmmakers since the 1300s.

Description

When a Roman general seized Sophonisba as war booty, her husband encouraged her to die with dignity rather than become a captive. She chose suicide by poison. As depicted in the painting, the toxin has just begun to take effect, and she uneasily maintains composure while penning a suicide note.
A vertically oriented oil painting depicts a woman with light skin tone slumped over a dark table. Her head rests on her crossed arms, and her right hand loosely holds a white quill and paper. She wears a vibrant orange shawl over a dark, layered dress. A small lamp on the right illuminates her shoulder and the checkerboard floor. Behind her, heavy, dark curtains frame a bed with white pillows.

The Death of Sophonisba

c. 1810

Pierre Guérin

(French, 1774–1833)
France, 19th century

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