# Death of Sophonisba

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/death-of-sophonisba-r6d6b4164b8ff4e>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [PITTONI, Giambattista](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4>)
- Date: 1701-1750
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 165 x 214 cm

## Commentary

Sophonisba was the daughter of a Carthaginian general at the time of the second Punic war. She married a prince of neighbouring Numidia, allied to Rome, and succeeded in alienating him from his Roman masters. But he was captured by another Numidian leader Masinissa, who in turn fell in love with Sophonisba, and likewise married her. To prevent the loss of a second ally from the same cause the Roman general Scipio demanded that she be surrendered and sent captive to Rome. Her husband, not daring to defy Scipio, sent her a cup of poison which she drank. Sophonisba&#39;s death is a popular theme among Baroque painters of Italy and northern Europe.

## Related artworks

- [Annunciation](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/annunciation-ra8fc0a5962358f>)
- [David and Bathsheba](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/david-and-bathsheba-rdaea8661af7f6d>)
- [Hagar in the Desert](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/hagar-in-the-desert-r1654d0d28a7faa>)
- [Sacrifice of Isaac](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/sacrifice-of-isaac-rfeee62449d864d>)
- [St Elizabeth Distributing Alms](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/st-elizabeth-distributing-alms-re80c6f724c60e4>)
- [St Roch](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/st-roch-rda999b81263275>)
- [Sts Jerome and Peter of Alcantara](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/sts-jerome-and-peter-of-alcantara-r88f2b8bf2de6f5>)
- [The Death of Joseph](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/the-death-of-joseph-r37737150a5251d>)
- [The Penitent Magdalene](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/the-penitent-magdalene-r2f04667ee8ddc7>)
- [The Rest on the Flight into Egypt](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/the-rest-on-the-flight-into-egypt-r963e3f75a36c42>)
- [The Sacrifice of Polyxena](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/the-sacrifice-of-polyxena-r079a074863d5b4>)
- [The Torture of St Thomas](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/pittoni-giambattista-r6c3c50e7dfa2b4/the-torture-of-st-thomas-rc58778f9ec61d7>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)