The Story of Sophonisba

Salomon de Koninck was a pupil of Rembrandt's in the 1630s and was active in Amsterdam. This painting depicts one of the most dramatic episodes of the Second Punic War – the suicide of Sophonisba, a Carthaginian woman. Sophonisba was used by her father, Hasdrubal Gisgonis, as a political pawn in his effort to gain the support of Syphax and Masinissa, Numidian chieftains. Sophonisba was betrothed to Masinissa in 206 BCE until Scipio, the Roman general, convinced Masinssa to join his army. Hasdrubal ended the arrangement and promised Sophonisba's hand in marriage to Syphax instead.

When the Roman army defeated the Carthaginians in 203 BCE, Sophonisba and Syphax were taken as prisoner. Following Masinissa's emotional reunion with Sophinisba, the couple immediately married. Disapproving of the marriage, Scipio reminded Masinissa that his new bride was technically "praeda populi Romani" (spoils of the Roman people), and commanded she be taken to Rome. Masinissa feared harm would come Sophonsiba's way if paraded in the triumphal procession. Taking matters into his own hands, Masinissa facilitated Sophonsiba's suicide by sending her a poisoned chalice.

The chalice depicted in the Elizabeth Holmes Fisher Collection painting was created in 1614 by Adam van Vianen for the Amsterdam guild of gold-and silversmiths and has been featured in several other seventeenth-century paintings.