The Dying Messalina and her Mother
1750
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1750
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a woman kneeling beside a body on the ground. The woman wears a brownish robe and a headwrap, looking down with her hand on her chin. The body on the ground is wrapped in blue and green cloths, lying on its back with one arm stretched out. Behind them, there’s a stone wall with steps and a small statue on top. The scene feels dramatic and quiet at the same time. The lighting makes the figures stand out against the darker background, focusing on their faces and hands. This technique is called *chiaroscuro*.
