Artemisia
c. 1539
Medium
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image/plate/sheet: 19.7 × 13.7 cm (7 13/16 × 5 7/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
77504
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Queen Artemisia II of ancient Caria (died 350 B.C.) was renowned throughout history as a devoted spouse. In Georg Pencz’s engraving, she drinks the ashes of her husband, Mausolus, which she has mixed with wine, in order to turn her body into his living tomb. Artemisia ruled in her husband’s stead for two years, during which time she built a magnificent building at Halicarnassus (now Bodrum, Turkey) to house their combined remains. Although the structure, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the...
About the Artist
Georg Pencz · 1490–1550
Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits