Zenobia Surrounded by Mounted Soldiers
Medium
Black chalk with brush and brown wash and touches of graphite, on cream laid paper, pieced together and laid down on board
Dimensions
15.9 × 25.3 cm (6 5/16 × 10 in.)
Classification
chalk
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110098
Art Historical Context
Justus van Egmont's *Zenobia Surrounded by Soldiers* captures a dramatic moment from ancient history, depicting the fierce 3rd-century Queen of Palmyra encircled by her foes. Zenobia, a symbol of defiance against Roman rule, was a popular subject in 17th-century European art, embodying themes of heroism and tragedy. As a Flemish Baroque artist active in Antwerp and Paris (1601–4), van Egmont in dynamic compositions, infusing this scene with tension through swirling figures and rearing horses, evoking the grandeur of historical painting. Executed in black chalk with brush and brown wash, plus ...