Modern Images of Cleopatra
Alma
Tadema, "Antony und Cleopatra", 1979
Enric C. Ricart, "Antony and Cleopatra", 1939
Pastel by: Irene Rudyj
WOOD ENGRAVING: DEATH OF CLEOPATRA
ANTIQUE PRINT-LATE 19TH CENTURY
WOOD ENGRAVING: CLEOPATRA ON THE CYNDUS
ANTIQUE PRINT-1896 ARTIST: H. MARKART
WOOD ENGRAVING: ANTONIUS & CLEOPATRA
ANTIQUE PRINT-1896
ARTIST: B. MOERLINGS
WOOD ENGRAVING: CLEOPATRA AT BATTLE OF ACTIUM
ANTIQUE PRINT-1896
ARTIST: H. VOGEL
WOOD ENGRAVING: OCTAVIANUS & CLEOPATRA
ANTIQUE PRINT-1896
"The Death of Cleopatra"
1875 Wood Engraving by V. C. Prinsep
Nile-Hunt a gravure from the original painting by Hans Makart (1840-1884)
From the facing page: Graphic historical records have familiarized us
with those special entertainments prepared by Cleopatra for the diversion
of triumvirs, consuls, and kings. To this catalogue belongs her ascent
of the Cydnus and arrival at Tarsus in the character of Venus, couched
in a magnificent barge, which was propelled by beautiful maidens, some
of whom disported in the water as naiads and mermaids. Everything that
could dazzle and delight the eye was profusely displayed; while strains
of music and ambrosial odors were wafted to the shore. It was the embodiment
of a voluptuous dream. In the same category are her series of feasts to
Antony, each of which outdid its predecessor in the amazing variety and
richness of its viands, and the fabulous splendor of its service-the last
one of the series having its costliness enhanced by the sacrifice of a
pearl of wondrous size and beauty, which the queen dissolved in vinegar
and drank before her astonished guests. The stories, too, of her fishing
excursions with Antony have also been made current by frequent repetition,
and all these incidents have furnished themes for the pencil of the artist
as well as for the pen of the historian and biographer. Stories so wonderful
have diverted all ages, and proved that the extravagant f ancies of Eastern
romancers can scarcely equal some of the facts of history.
Our artist has probably meant to picture one of the more ordinary pastimes
of a royal Egyptian. The details of the composition are chiefly supplied
by the painter's imagination after careful local studies, the work being
the fruit of a winter's sojourn in Egypt in 1875-6. The presence of a crocodile
in the net that has just been hauled in adds an element of danger which
relieves the scene from tameness; while the energetic action of the figures
in the foreground is effectively contrasted with the characteristic Oriental
languor which is abundantly represented in the upper part of the composition.
The swarthy, unctuous skins of these hunters, with their fine reflections
of light, and the rich variety of colors in the manifold elements of the
architecture, draperies, water, sky, plumage of birds, etc., all these
have afforded a favorable occasion for the display of the painter's peculiar
mastery of color. Hans Makart was born at Salzbourg, 1840, and studied
at Munich under Piloty. His subjects are historical, and are treated in
a large, decorative style. In color he attempted, with no small degree
of success, to revive the traditions of the Venetian school. He was Professor
in the Academy of Vienna; Member of the Academies of Berlin, Munich, and
Vienna, and Officer of the Legion of Honor.
Hy Hintermeister - ca. 1927
This is the large, Royal Doulton jug featuring Marcus Antonius and the
Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra.
Issued in 1985, it was the first in the Star-Crossed Lovers Series.
Fascinated
with enigmatic Queen, a Japanese writer, Tomiko Miyao, in her book entitled
" Cleopatra" produced an array of paintings depicting the Queen but through
the eyes of a Japanese.
More
from this source
Maxfield Parrish Art Print
The Death of Cleopatra
(La Muerte de Cleopatrea)
Artist: Juan Luna
Color Lithograph from 1880s!
After the defeat by Augustus of the combined, forces of Antony and Cleopatra
at Actium, when they retreated to Alexandria, they seem to have become
determined to die by suicide. "The court of Egypt actually disbanded their
club of 'The Inimitable Livers,' and constituted another in its stead not
inferior in splendor or luxury, calling it that of 'The Diers Together;'
for all those that said they would die with Antony and Cleopatra gave in
their names; for the present passing their time in all manner of pleasures
and a regular succession of banquets. But Cleopatra was busied in
making a collection of all varieties of poisonous drugs, and in order
to see which of them were the least painful in their operation she had
them tried on prisoners who were under sentence of death. But finding
that the quick poisons always worked with sharp pains, and that the less
painful were slow, she next tried venomous animals, and watched with her
own eyes whilst they were applied--one creature to the body of another.
This was, her daily practice, and she concluded that nothing was comparable
to the bite of the asp, which, without convulsion or groaning, brought
on a heavy lethargy, the senses being stupefied by degrees, the patient
being sensible of no pain, but only troubled when disturbed, like
those that are in a profound natural sleep."
