The family of Darius before Alexander

The original is in the Chicago Art Institute. The subject is taken from Plutarch, Lives, 33:21. After the defeat of the Persian King Darius during the Battle of Issus, his family was captured by Alexander. In a tent on the battlefield Darius' mother Sisygambis kneeled before the victorious Alexander; while the Persian Queen Stateira and her daughters stand behind her. Alexander's kind and honourable treatment of the family of his foe makes this scene to an illustrious example of princely magnanimity.

See colour illustration