Cleopatra’s Suicide
after 1659 | Guido Cagnacci
The last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, let herself be bitten by a venomous snake to avoid the disgrace of being led through Rome in the emperor Augustus’ triumphal procession. At the end of his life, Cagnacci was court painter in Vienna. Two opposing painting concepts are combined in this picture, the sharply observing realism of the expressive servants, and the classic posture of the calm and collected seated queen.
The last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, let herself be bitten by a venomous snake to avoid the disgrace of being led through Rome in the emperor Augustus’ triumphal procession. At the end of his life, Cagnacci was court painter in Vienna. Two opposing painting concepts are combined in this picture, the sharply observing realism of the expressive servants, and the classic posture of the calm and collected seated queen.
Artist:
Guido Cagnacci (1601 San Arcangelo di Romagna - 1663 Wien) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Kleopatra VII. (69-30 v. Chr.) DNB
Time:
after 1659
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Emilian
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
Overall: 153 cm × 169 cm
Framed: 168 cm × 188 cm × 12 cm
Signed
Inscribed at the bottom right of the armrest support: GVIDO CAGNAZZI
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 260
Provenance
Coll. Leopold Wilhelm