Porcia

[rtreeves]

While touring the Musée Lambinet in Versailles (France) I saw a portrait by Pierre Mignard (painter during the reign of Louis XIV) entitled "Porcia se donnant la mort" (Porcia committing suicide). The portrait was of a young woman about to swallow hot coals.

Can anyone tell me who Porcia was and why she would commit suicide in such a painful way?

[KneadToKnow]

Different spelling, but I'm pretty sure it's the same person:Portia (Julius Caesar)
Convinced that her husband, Brutus, will not be able to defeat Antony and his army, Portia commits suicide in her Roman home.
From here (http://shakespeare.about.com/library/weekly/aa110800b.htm). As to the choice of method, I cannot say.