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Paintings

Antiochus and Stratonice

Type
Paintings(Opens in new tab)
Date
ca. 1470
Accession number
26.120
Maker
Michele Ciampanti(Opens in new tab) (Italian, 1463–1521)
Dimensions
17 x 43 in. (43.2 x 109.2 cm.)
Medium
tempera on panel
Description
This is one of two painted panels (26.120 and 26.121) portraying the ancient love story of Antiochus and Stratonice, which once decorated the front of two wedding chests.
Credit
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The Arabella D. Huntington Memorial Art Collection.
Department
European Art
Find out more
View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)
This panel, together with its compaion piece on the right (#26.121), depicts the tale of Antiochus and Stratonice in a continuous narrative. Prince Antiochus has fallen madly in love with his young stepmother, Stratonice. Rather than reveal his desire, he decides to starve himself. A doctor, shown in red, suspects lovesickness, though he does not know the object of Antiochus' affection.
The narrative reads from left to right:
1. The doctor discovers that though the prince ignores all the beauties of the court who come to visit his sickroom, his pulse races when Stratonice enters.
2. The doctor finds the king, who is in the company of the beautiful Stratonice.
3. He draws the king aside and reveals the cause of the trouble.

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