Roxane Embraces the Dying Alexander

From the Getty Museum record

Continuing the [previous narrative][1], the story shifts to Roxane succeeding in convincing Alexander not to throw himself in the river. She is shown holding him in her embrace, comforting him as the poison ends his life and reign. The imagery by the artist Grigoris reflects the emotions related by the dying ruler and his wife, Roxane’s kiss being a poignant farewell as Alexander’s life slips away in their bed. The composition of this scene is marked by the presence of an unidentified, haloed figure, who, alongside Roxane, suggests an effort to Christianize the Alexander legend further, framing the narrative within a moralized, medieval context. Grigoris’s use of expressive gestures and vibrant decorative backgrounds heightens the emotional resonance of the scene, reinforcing his innovative ability to merge secular themes with Christian iconographic traditions. [1]: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/1D81JJ