{"product_id":"semiramis-receiving-word-of-the-revolt-of-babylon-guercino","title":"Semiramis Receiving Word of the Revolt of Babylon - Guercino","description":"\u003cp\u003eA dramatic Baroque history painting by Guercino, depicting the legendary Queen Semiramis reacting to news of a revolt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino, painted this work in 1624. It depicts the legendary Assyrian queen Semiramis at her dressing table. She is interrupted by a messenger who brings news of a rebellion in Babylon. The composition captures a moment of sudden tension. Semiramis holds up her hand to pause her grooming, her expression one of calm authority despite the urgent information being delivered. Her attendant, visible behind her, continues to hold a mirror, creating a sense of domestic intimacy that contrasts with the political gravity of the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuercino employs the dramatic lighting characteristic of the Baroque period. The figures emerge from a dark, shadowed background, with light focused on the queen's face and the rich textures of her garments. The fabric of her skirt, featuring a heavy brocade pattern, and the metallic sheen of the crown resting on the table, demonstrate the artist's technical skill in rendering material surfaces. The messenger, dressed in a simple tunic, provides a visual counterpoint to the queen's elaborate attire. His gesture, pointing towards the source of the trouble, directs the viewer's eye across the canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting is a fine example of the Bolognese school of the seventeenth century. Guercino balances the narrative requirements of history painting with a focus on human reaction. The interaction between the three figures is contained within a tight, theatrical space. The work avoids excessive ornamentation, allowing the psychological exchange between the queen and the messenger to remain the primary focus. The colour palette is dominated by deep shadows, punctuated by the warm tones of the messenger's clothing and the cool, reflective surfaces of the queen's accessories. This print captures the depth and tonal range of the original oil painting, making it a suitable addition for those interested in classical narrative art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portrait-of-charles-i-of-england-anthony-van-dyck\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of Charles I of England - Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/pastoral-landscape-with-the-ponte-molle-claude-lorrain\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePastoral Landscape with the Ponte Molle - Claude Lorrain — Claude Lorrain\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Guercino","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58730184311119,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58730213769551,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58730213802319,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58730213835087,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58730213867855,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58730213900623,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58730213933391,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58730213966159,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58730213998927,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58730214031695,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58730214064463,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58730214097231,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Semiramis-Receiving-Word-of-the-Revolt-of-Babylon_Poster_CompositorV1_1788996516974.jpg?v=1788996685","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/semiramis-receiving-word-of-the-revolt-of-babylon-guercino","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}