3-035-524 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Death of Messalina, about 1704/1712. Additional Info: Solimena here represents the murder of Messalina, third wife of the Roman Emperor Claudius, who had a reputation for promiscuity. Though the emperor forgave Messalina’s adultery, others saw this as a weakness, and a Roman officer ordered her assassination. The dynamic composition illustrates the moment in which a soldier thrusts a sword toward the frightened empress, who grasps his arm in a helpless attempt to fend off the attack.This may be the only painted representation of the death of Messalina, a story from the Annals of Tacitus.