Sémiramis, The Queen of Assyria

The King of Assyria, on hearing of her beauty of Sémiramis, summoned her to him and fell in love with her at first sight. Sémiramis requested that the king granted her full command of the kingdom for five days. In her five day rule, Sémiramis ordered the arrest and killing of the king, and thus took the throne herself. In the present lot she is depicted as the Queen of Assyria.

It is likely this picture was a study for a larger composition. Rochegrosse's Queen of Assyria was sold in these rooms on 21 November 2012, lot 72.