Semiramis Called to Arms 1645

Guercino painted “Semiramis Called to Arms” in Italy sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Semiramis was a legendary Assyrian queen known for her military prowess. Guercino pictures her at her toilette when she is interrupted by news of an attack. We can see her holding up her hand to command silence and to stop dressing, while a messenger bursts in to deliver the news. In Baroque Italy, the image of a powerful queen may have been associated with the rise of female power within the Catholic church, which itself came under attack during the Reformation. The painting also speaks to the early modern fascination with the ancient world, particularly with stories that cast women as rulers and warriors. By studying the visual codes and cultural references within the artwork, we can gain insight into the complex social and historical contexts in which they were created. Through interdisciplinary research we are able to understand the rich and multifaceted meanings embedded in these images.