Collection

Sophonisba

Luca Ferrari

Basic information

ID: Ж-771
Author: Luca Ferrari
Name: Sophonisba
Date of creation: 17th c.
Country: Italy
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 74 x 56

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: history painting
Plot: Sophonisba
Provenance: Collection of Leon Pininski

Information about author

Author: Luca Ferrari
Artist's lifetime: 1605–1654
Biography: The artist most likely began his studies under Alessandro Tiarini in Bologna, where such prominent artists as Guercino, Ludovico Carracci and Guido Reni worked. His formation as a painter was affected by the decorations of the Basilica of Ghiara in the city of Reggio, on which the leading Emilian artists worked. Later, under the influence of the Renaissance masters of Ferrara and the innovative colouristic manner of the Paduan and Venetian artists, Luca Ferrari developed his style. Niccolo Reinieri and artists from the Veneto region, who specialised in intimate works, introduced the master to small-format paintings on mythological and biblical subjects. In those works, he combined the academic style of the Bologna academicians with the Venetian colour and chiaroscuro of the Caravaggists.

Object description

The theme is based on the history of Ancient Rome during the Second Punic War. It was described in "From the Founding of the City" by the ancient historian Titus Livy. Scipio, the Roman commander, ordered to kidnap Sophonisba, the daughter of the Carthaginian king Hasdrubal, and send her to Rome as a captive. To save his wife's honour, Masinissa gave her to drink poison from a cup. This plot was prevalent among 17th-century Italian artists. The painting depicts Sophonisba, who ventured to take poison from a wine chalice. The black background of the canvas adds lyrical drama to the scene. The artist skilfully represented the anatomy of the human body and realistically depicted the heroine's emotional state.

Sophonisba

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