Love Story DEATH OF PRETTY WOMAN GIRL SOPHONISBA ~ 1887 Art Print ETCHING RARE!

SOPHONISBA Artist: FROM THE ORIGINAL PAINTING BY L. GIORDANO (ETCHED BY TEYSSONNIERES) CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE 19th CENTURY CLASSICAL ART PRINTS LIKE THIS ONE!! PRINT DATE: This photogravure was printed in 1887; it is not a modern reproduction in any way. PRINT SIZE: Overall print size is a large 10 1/2 x 16 inches, image size is 7 7/8 by 10 7/8 inches. PRINT CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. Paper is very thick quality woven rag stock paper. SHIPPING: Buyer to pay shipping, domestic orders receive priority mail, international orders receive regular air mail unless otherwise asked for. We take a variety of payment options. Full payment details will be in our email to you after auction close. We pack properly to protect your item! DESCRIPTION OF PRINT SUBJECT: The story of Sophonisba is one of the saddest in Roman history. Born a Princess of Numidia, and wooed by two rival Princes,—Masinissi and Syphax,—-she first bestowed her hand upon the latter, who became King of Numidia. When the Roman General, Scipio, invaded Carthaginia, he laid siege to Utica, the capital of Numidia) and succeeded in gaining the co-operation of Masinissi, chiefly because of his disappointment in the matter of his love for Sophonisba. After a long siege, the city of Utica fell, and Syphax and Sophonisba fled, the former with his troops fled into the interior and the latter took refuge in Citra, which also was captured by Masinissi. When Masinissi entered Citra, he was met by Sophonisba, formerly his betrothed, but now the wife of his rival, and her charms melted his heart, and fearing lest Scipio might claim her as his captive, to be led in triumph through the streets of Rome, he took the bold step of marrying her at once. But Masinissi felt that he was unable to protect his unhappy bride, and resolved that at least she should have the option of escaping from the degradation of a Roman triumph, and therefore offered her a cup of poison telling her that herein lay her only possible deliverance. She took the poison, saying that she accepted the nuptial gift, and drained it to the dregs. Scipio, on learning of the tragical ending of this unhappy affair, gently reproved Masinissi for his haste, presented him with honorable testimonies to his bravery and fidelity, and at the close of the war he was made King of Numidia by the Roman Senate. In the delights of satisfied ambition and the achievement of a powerful sovereignty, Masinissi forgot the sorrows of Sophonisba. Luca Giordano was born at Naples in 1632; studied under Ribrera and made rapid progress. On leaving his studio he repaired to Rome, where he became the scholar and fellow-worker of Pietro da Cortona. He subsequently went to Spain, where he became a great favorite of Charles II, and assisted in the embellishment of the Escorial. The palaces Riccardi and Petti, Florence, contain many specimens of this artist's fine style. He died about 1704. AN EXTREMELY RARE PRINT ! VERY VERY HARD TO FIND!