Artwork
Semiramis Receiving Word of the Revolt of Babylon
Semiramis Receiving Word of the Revolt of Babylon is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Guercino. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Semiramis Receiving Word of the Revolt of Babylon is a 1624 oil painting by Guercino, an Italian artist known for his early dynamic naturalism.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Assyrian queen Semiramis reacting to news of a Babylonian rebellion, conveying a sense of intensity and focus through the queen's serious expression and gesture.
Technique & Style
Guercino's use of chiaroscuro and vivid expression characterizes the work, with a muted palette dominated by shades of brown and gray, and a cityscape and mountain range in the background.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and represents Guercino's formative style, which contrasts with the more restrained classicism of his later career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
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