Cleopatra (ca. 1515–40)
Original title: Cleopatra, partly naked laying on a bed
kurzbeschreibung
An unknown engraver produced this sheet around 1515–40, showing Cleopatra half-naked and resting on a bed. The work measures 10.5 by 17.6 cm and belongs to the public-domain holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Description
A half-naked woman lies on a couch, her arms crossed above her head, her gaze turned to the right. A thin garment wraps around her waist and legs. The bed has an ornamented headboard, while plain vertical stripes suggesting a curtain fill the backdrop. The lines are careful and rich in detail, as was customary for sixteenth-century engravings.
Context
This print dates from the first half of the sixteenth century, when classical figures such as Cleopatra appeared often in art. Such engravings usually circulated as single sheets and carried classical motifs onward. The identity of the artist is not recorded, which is common for many utilitarian prints of the period. The small format suggests use as a book illustration or a collector's item.
Impact
A quiet, almost intimate arrangement draws the viewer close to the action. Careful linework creates a delicate play of light and shadow that lends the image its own elegance. Despite the erotic subject, the view remains restrained and firmly grounded in craft.
Technique
The sheet was made as an engraving: the motif is cut into a copper plate and then printed onto paper. Fine lines and monochrome reproduction characterize this process. The precise linework allows for a high level of detail, as the visual analysis makes clear.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)