[Sophonisba Pleading to King Masinissa for her Life] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Sophonisba Pleading to King Masinissa for her Life]
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Modern day Algeria; North Africa; Numidia
Description: This illustration depicts Sophonisba, a young noble woman who was previously married to king Syphax of Numidia, on her knees with her hands together in prayer as she pleads to the man standing in front of her. Sophonisba is wearing a crown and royal garb to signify her royal status. Boccaccio explains that Sophonisba was swayed by her father to convince her husband to abandon friendship with Rome and attack them. When this went wrong and Rome attacked in response to their betrayal, Sophonisba was left to defend herself. When a Roman general named Masanissa took over Numidia, Sophonisba pleaded to him for her life. This is the man Sophonisba is kneeling in front of in the image. He is depicted with his army standing behind him in the tent. Masinissa spares her life and marries her as he was taken away with her beauty.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Illuminator)
Type: Text; Illumination
Identifier: mta:12020
Language: frm
Source Name: De la louenge et vertu des nobles et cleres dames [Of praise and virtue of the noble and clergy women]
Parent Collection: 1493 Paris; 1493 Paris
Image: mta_12020_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Sophonisba; Important Queens; Important Women