Antiochus Yearning for Stratonice
1740
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1740
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a young man in a red robe slumped on a couch, eyes closed, while a doctor presses a hand to his chest and a woman in blue watches. This painting tells a dramatic story from ancient history: Antiochus is lovesick for his stepmother Stratonice, but he’s too ashamed to say it. The doctor figures it out by feeling his pulse. The quiet tension—no one speaks—makes the moment feel real. Look up *chiaroscuro* to see how Pozzi used light and shadow to guide your eye.
