About the Work
The clearly structured drawing convincingly illustrates the violence and drama of the complex battle scene. Traditionally ascribed to Pietro Cortona, today it is considered the work of Cortona’s pupil Giacinto Gimignani. The well-considered execution is characteristic of this artist’s work: His pen adheres quite precisely to the preparatory chalk drawing underneath; only few corrections are to be seen. The theme is the assassination of King Darius III of Persia by two of his generals on his flight from Alexander the Great.