Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem

Name: Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem
Brand: Sebastiano Conca
SKU: alexander-the-great-in-the-temple-of-jerusalem
Price: 222 USD
Availability: InStock

Sebastiano Conca

Item Number: 29967

$

Sebastiano Conca composes the scene in the Italian Baroque manner: Alexander dismounted at the steps of the temple, kneeling, with the High Priest in white-and-gold robes above him on the steps. The a...

Full Description

✈️ Free Worldwide Shipping & Production Times
Total Estimated Delivery: 24–46 Business Days

Since this is a 100% hand-painted artwork made to order, delivery takes a bit longer than mass-produced prints. Here is the exact breakdown:

Processing (14–21 Business Days): Our artists craft and hand-paint your piece. High-quality oil paintings require time for layers to dry properly to ensure they arrive in perfect condition.

Shipping Transit: Once your painting passes quality control, it is handed over to our reliable shipping partners.

USA, Canada & Europe: 10–20 business days

Australia & Rest of World: 15–25 business days

Customs Note: International orders may be subject to import duties/taxes, which are the buyer's responsibility.
🛡️ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee & Returns
We want your purchase experience to be as easy as possible! You have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.

Standard Artworks: Eligible for return within 30 days (must be new, unused, and in original packaging). For "change of mind" returns, the buyer covers return shipping costs. We do not charge any restocking fees.

Damaged or Defective Items: If your art arrives damaged, contact us immediately. We will offer a free replacement or a full refund and cover any return shipping costs.

Custom & Personalized Orders: Due to their unique nature, portraits and custom-modified artworks are final sale and cannot be returned unless they arrive damaged.

Cancellations: You may cancel your order for free within 24 hours of purchase.

To start a return, simply contact us at info@tryartwork.com.
🎨 100% Hand-Painted Oil Art

This is NOT a print. You are purchasing a genuine, hand-painted oil reproduction created by a skilled artist.

We use museum-quality canvas and rich oil paints to capture the texture, depth, and soul of the original masterpiece. Every brushstroke is applied by hand, making your artwork truly unique.

Our benefits

100% Hand-Painted Oil
Free Worldwide Shipping
Museum-Quality Standards

Features “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

Overview
Author	Sebastiano Conca
Color	Red, Gold, Green, White, Black, Beige, Brown, Blue
Tags	Historical, Drama, Figures, Classical Architecture, Nobility, Court, Power, Opulence, Royal, Storytelling, Emotion
Concept and Style
Topics	Nobility , Royal
Painting Details
Alternate Titles	Alexander Honoring The Jewish Temple
Art Movement	Baroque
Historical Events	The Role Of Alexander In Jewish History
Visual and Stylistic Elements
Brushwork/Texture	Bold And Dramatic
Focal Point	Alexander’s Gesturing Hand
Light Source	Dramatic Spotlighting
Objects	People , Throne , Drapery , Columns , Architecture , Robes , Crown , Steps , Gestures
Orientation	Horizontal
Perspective	Grand Narrative Depth
Original Masterpiece Features
Creation Process	Oil On Canvas
Inscriptions/Signatures	Signed By Conca
Provenance	Private Collection
Influences and Related Works
Influences	Ancient History, Religious Tolerance
Related Works	The Triumph Of Alexander
Exhibition and Market Information
Criticism & Reception	Viewed As A Historical Homage
Cultural Significance	Represents Cultural Respect Between Civilizations
Exhibition History	Various Baroque Exhibitions

Did you see an error in the description or specifications? Let us know about it!

Report an error

Description “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

Sebastiano Conca composes the scene in the Italian Baroque manner: Alexander dismounted at the steps of the temple, kneeling, with the High Priest in white-and-gold robes above him on the steps. The architecture stretches into deep space; the crowd of priests and soldiers fills the middle distance; the colour is held to warm cream, soft red and the deep gold of the temple interior.

The hand-painted canvas reproduction keeps the warmth of the temple interior and the careful drawing of the central pair — passages that print tends to compress into one even tone. The picture works in a formal room with a long wall: a dining room, a library, a hallway with steady indirect light. A traditional gilded frame is the period-correct pairing.

Conca worked in Rome through the first half of the eighteenth century and produced many large biblical and historical canvases. The reproduction is hand-finished on stretched canvas and ready to hang. Buyers can request a darker or lighter tonal balance during the painting stage. Standard formats are offered; larger custom sizes are available on request. A protective varnish is applied after final review and before packaging.

Collector's Guide PDF “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem — Collector's Guide (PDF)

Reviews “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

Add your review

Q/A “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

Experts answer questions

Add your questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What historical event does Sebastiano Conca depict in Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem?

The painting shows the Macedonian king Alexander the Great kneeling in reverence before the Jewish High Priest at the Temple in Jerusalem, an episode described by the ancient historian Josephus. According to the account, Alexander was shown a prophecy in the Book of Daniel that he interpreted as foretelling his own conquests, leading him to honor the temple and spare Jerusalem rather than sack it.
What visual and stylistic qualities define this Baroque composition?

Conca uses the theatrical grandeur of the Italian Baroque to full effect: a vast architectural setting opens dramatically, figures are arranged in sweeping diagonal groups, and light falls in rich, contrasted shafts across the scene. The costumes blend historical imagination with 18th-century ornamental splendor, and the crowd of soldiers and priests creates a sense of pageantry and awe befitting an encounter between two civilizations.
What is the historical significance of this painting?

Sebastiano Conca (1680–1764) was one of the leading painters of the Roman Baroque-Rococo transition, renowned for large-scale religious and historical commissions. This work reflects the 18th-century fascination with ancient history as a vehicle for moral and political allegory — Alexander's clemency toward Jerusalem was read as a lesson in magnanimity for rulers. Conca's paintings decorated many of the great churches and palaces of Rome.
What kind of space suits a print of Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem?

The painting's monumental scale, dramatic architecture, and rich pageantry make it ideal for large formal rooms, entrance halls, or libraries where it can command attention as a statement piece. The warm amber tones and sense of grandeur lend authority and cultural depth to professional or institutional spaces. It is especially resonant for admirers of ancient history, classical civilization, or the Italian Baroque tradition.

Additional Information “Alexander the Great in the Temple of Jerusalem” by Sebastiano Conca

“Conca brought the grandeur of ancient history to life with Baroque intensity.” Anthony Clark

“In historical painting, the past becomes a mirror for the present.” Francis Haskell

“Conca’s compositions possess a theatrical power that commands attention.” Ellis Waterhouse

“The meeting of Alexander and the high priest symbolized the encounter of civilizations.” Peter Green

“Roman Baroque painting reached new heights of dramatic expression in Conca’s work.” Rudolf Wittkower

#1. Historical Legend. The painting depicts the legendary meeting between Alexander the Great and the Jewish high priest at Jerusalem.

#2. Baroque Grandeur. Conca was a leading figure in Roman Baroque painting, known for dramatic compositions and rich coloring.

#3. Religious Significance. The subject emphasizes Alexander's respect for the Jewish faith, a theme with political resonance.

#4. Theatrical Composition. The painting demonstrates Conca's skill in creating complex multi-figure compositions with dramatic lighting.

#5. Classical Subject. The Alexander theme was popular among patrons who saw themselves as heirs to classical greatness.

The composition rewards a gallery wall or large hallway, or a formal living room. It can also lead the eye down a hallway as the visual anchor at the far wall. Romantic interiors with brass accents and brushed brass lamps suit it especially well. It belongs where conversation pauses — a study, library, or formal sitting room rather than a casual lounge. The work rewards both a casual passing glance and a long, close inspection.

Patience is required in two places: the play of light on armor and fabric and the bold and dramatic brushwork. Detailing comes last; broad form and tonal structure are settled first. Historical scenes ask for gesture before detail: each figure has to read at distance. Oil paint on canvas, painted by hand — the piece is a careful interpretation of the original. Studio practice favors patience over speed; nothing is rushed past the point of getting it right.

Pose, light and arrangement converge on Alexander's Gesturing Hand, fixing the picture's center of gravity. Among the elements on the surface are people, throne, drapery, columns, and architecture, each given its share of attention. The palette is built around red, gold, green, and white, the tones working together to set the mood. Light enters at a deliberate angle, supporting the composition without competing with it. The brushwork is handled to support the composition rather than to call attention to itself. The painting holds its composition steady whether seen from across a room or examined closely.