Pictures Dated 4th June 2010

'Sophonisba', 1640s. Artist: Luca Ferrari

'Sophonisba', 1640s. Sophonisba was a Carthaginian noblewoman who was captured by the Romans late in the Second Punic War. She committed suicide by drinking poison in order to avoid the humiliation of being paraded through Rome as a captive in a triumphal procession. Her story inspired numerous visual, written and musical works of art from the 16th until the 19th century. Found in the collection of the State A Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.

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'The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple', c1650. Artist: Bernardo Cavallino

'The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple', c1650. This painting illustrates the biblical episode (2 Maccabees, 3:21-28) of the fate of Heliodorus, sent by Seleucus, King of Syria, to take the treasure preserved in the Temple of Jerusalem. At the request of the high priest Onias, God has Heliodorus beaten and banished from the Temple. Found in the collection of the State A Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.

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'Portrait of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford', early 18th century. Artist: French Master

'Portrait of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford', early 18th century. Although the title was never used to refer to him at the time, Walpole (1676-1745) is regarded as Britain's first Prime Minister. His administration lasted from 1721 until he resigned in 1742, longer than that of any Prime Minister since. Found in the collection of the Museum of Private Collections in the A Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.

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