Woman in Agony (the Death of Sophonisba?)

A woman in extreme physical or emotional distress—possibly depicting the death of Sophonisba, the Carthaginian queen who drank poison rather than submit to Rome—appears in this 1660 painting at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. History painting was not Metsu"s primary genre, and this dramatic subject shows him working in an elevated mode that connects to the classical traditions of Italian and French art rather than the domestic Dutch scenes for which he is best known.

The dramatic subject calls for a more theatrical approach than Metsu"s usual intimate interiors, with the woman"s agonized posture and expression creating the emotional center. The palette may be darker and more dramatic than his genre paintings, with the figure"s distress conveyed through physical pose and facial expression. The handling shows Metsu adapting his refined technique to the demands of historical drama.