The plot revolves around a female artist's struggles against the Venetian city-state in the aftermath of the 16th century Battle of Lepanto.
Although the city commissions the painting to celebrate the victory over the Turks, the artist's vision differs dramatically from that of the Doge and the Catholic Church.
The play was later revived in 2012 by the National Theatre on its Lyttelton stage with Fiona Shaw and Tim McInnerny starring in this production.
[citation needed] The play opened Off-Broadway at the Potomac Theatre Project in July 2008, directed by Richard Romagnoli and starring Jan Maxwell as Galactia.
In his review of the National Theatre production, The Guardian critic Michael Billington wrote: "it shows Barker's poetic talent at its most disciplined and has the feel of a contemporary classic.