Alexander at the Corpse of Darius, 1708
Oil on canvas
Dimensions without frame86 × 105,5 cm
Status
on display, room 005 About the workAlexander the Great, the new king of Persia, pays his respects to his opponent. His predecessor Darius was murdered by his own subordinates. Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s trademark was light brushstrokes. He often painted close-up motifs that filled the image space and were limited to a few figures. Here he was able to demonstrate his talent with this portrayal of Darius lying with his head in the foreground and feet pointing away – a challenge in the depiction of perspective. Elector Johann Wilhelm brought the artist, who was popular throughout Europe, to the Düsseldorf court in 1713.
AccessionAcquisition 1987
Provenance[...]; 1987 angekauft von Chaucer Fine Arts Inc., London
Inventory numberM 1987-1