Italian painter of the Baroque period (active 1st half of the 17th century) Sophonisba with the poisoned chalice Larger-than-life portrait in splendid dark blue and golden yellow brocade robes and turban, holding a golden chalice in her right hand. Behind her is a dark green brocade curtain, on the right side of the picture a landscape with a large tent. In its materiality and the depiction of Sophonisba herself in all her beauty, this is an outstanding painting that undoubtedly suggests a work by an important Italian master (or a female master). The depicted Sophonisba was the daughter of the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal and queen of Numidia in 205-203 BC. During the Second Punic War, she distinguished herself through her unbending, virtuous behaviour by drinking a cup of poison to escape the threat of Roman captivity. This earned her the admiration of posterity, and from the Italian Renaissance onwards Sophonisba (like the equally famous Lucretia) became a theme in literature and art. In Italian painting of the 17th century, Mattia Preti (1613 - 1699) and not least Diana de Rosa gen. Annella di Massimo (1602 - 1643) dedicated themselves to Sophonisba. In her oeuvre, the latter prominently portrayed women as heroines characterised by great individuality, probably influenced by Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 - after 1654), who was also active in Naples. Oil on canvas, double; 129 cm x 92 cm. Frame. The painting is incorrectly attributed to the Swiss portrait painter Jakob Emanuel Handmann (1718 - 1781) on the frame label and a collection label. Italian painter or paintress active first half 17th century. Oil on canvas, relined. Wrong attribution to the Swiss portrait painter Jakob Emanuel Handmann (1718 - 1781) on a frame placque and a collection label.