Cleveland Museum of Art
The Death of Sophonisba
Pierre Guérin
- Date
- c. 1810
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Culture
- France, 19th century
- Department
- Modern European Painting and Sculpture
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
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. The story of Sophonisba has been an inspiration to artists, writers, and even filmmakers since the 1300s.
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