The suicide of Dido, Queen of Carthage 1675 - 1699

Ferdinando Tacca's bronze sculpture, "The Suicide of Dido, Queen of Carthage" (1675-1699), depicts the tragic queen of Carthage in the midst of her self-inflicted demise. The sculpture, a powerful representation of despair and loss, captures Dido's anguished expression as she raises her hand to her heart, while her flowing drapery suggests the weight of her sorrow. Tacca's work, crafted in a Baroque style, conveys the emotional intensity of the scene through Dido's contorted pose and the dramatic movement of her garments, creating a captivating and poignant visual. The sculpture, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, stands at a modest 9 1/16 inches tall, offering an intimate encounter with the tragic queen's final moments.