Rijksmuseum
Scene from the Wedding of Messalina and Gaius Sillius
Creator
Nikolaus KnüpferGerman-born Dutch painter (1609–1655) · 1609–1655
All works by this person →More on Wikipedia- Date
- c. 1645 - c. 1650
- Medium
- panel, oil paint (paint)
- Institution
- Rijksmuseum
The promiscuous Messalina, the bare-breasted woman in the centre, was the wife of Emperor Claudius. She committed adultery by marrying Sillius and they organized an inordinately lavish banquet to celebrate their wedding. The group peering out the window is on to something; Emperor Claudius is approaching the palace to put an end to the infidelity, drinking and merrymaking. Messalina’s frenzied greed ultimately led to her downfall.
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