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Notes
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This woman is most likely Sophonisba, an ill-fated but brave Carthaginian princess; she drains a glass of poison. In 206 BC Massinia allied with the Roman general Scipio to defeat the western Numidians, ruled by Sophonisba’s first husband, Syphax. Massinia fell in love with Sophonisba, but could not dissuade Scipio from his plan to parade her in Rome as a victory trophy. To spare her this humiliation, Massinia sent her poison. Sophonisba appears as if lit by a strong light coming from the left. Areas hit by this imaginary light – the tips of the folds of the drapery, for example – are bright, while the creases are much darker. The sharp contrasts help create the illusion that the figure is sculpted. Mantegna is showing off: with paint alone he could create a figure that looks as hard and solid as a bronze relief.
Title
A Woman Drinking
Date
about 1495-1506
Medium
Tempera on poplar
Measurements
H 71.2 x W 19.8 cm
Accession number
NG1125.2
Acquisition method
Bought, 1882
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
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