Guercino

Click/Tap the image to see the enlargement

Description

Painted in 1645 for Cardinal Federigo Cornaro as an overdoor for the Palazzo Cornaro, Rome. Semiramis was the legendary Queen of Babylon. On receiving the news from the messenger, who had burst into her chamber whilst she was dressing, she pronounced ‘my beauty will calm them’ and ran out even though ‘her hair was not yet done’.