Darius’s Wife Before Alexander

GASPARE DIZIANI (1689-1767)
Italy, 18^th century
oil on canvas
Gaspare Diziani depicted several scenes from the life of Alexander the Great. The emperor, draped in his red mantle, has defeated King Darius III of Persia at the Battle of Issus (333 BC). Stateira, Darius’s wife, is imploring Alexander to spare his family and herself.
A fervent admirer of the baroque painter Sebastiano Ricci, to whom this picture was initially attributed, Diziani imitated his eloquent manner in more vivid colours, a recipe which brought him great success, notably as decorator of the court in Dresden and the Venice Opera.

inv. PE 114