The suicide of Cleopatra: Cleopatra is shown lying on her bed grasping the tail of the asp with her left hand. Line engraving by R. Strange after a painting by Guido Reni, 1753.
- Reni, Guido, 1575-1642.
- Date:
- [1753]
- Reference:
- 42950i
- Pictures
Selected images from this work
View 1 imageAbout this work
Description
Cleopatra VII (69 BC-30 BC), Egyptian Queen, lover of Julius Caesar and later the wife of Mark Antony. After the Roman armies of Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) defeated their combined forces, Antony and Cleopatra killed themselves, and Egypt fell under Roman domination. Rather than be dragged through the city in which she had been borne as a queen, she killed herself, possibly by means of an asp, symbol of divine royalty
Publication/Creation
London (next door to Parliament Street Coffee House, Westminster) : Sold by the author [Robert Strange], [1753]
Physical description
1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 35.7 x 29.2 cm
Lettering
To her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, this plate is humbly inscribed, by Her Royal Highness's much obliged, and most obedient humble servant Robt. Strange-from the original painting of Guido Rheni, in ye collection of Her Royal Highness the P.D. of Wales. Guidus Rheni pinxit Romae. Robertus Strange delineavit et sculpsit. Londini.
Lettering continues with verses in Latin
Reference
Wellcome Collection 42950i
Type/Technique
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed storesLocation Status Access Closed stores