Cleopatra lying partly naked on a bed
Original title: Cleopatra lying partly naked on a bed
kurzbeschreibung
A reclining Cleopatra, wearing only a cloth around her hips and with a cushion under her head, is the focus of this engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi. Made between 1515 and 1527, the print draws attention to the intimate pose of the figure.
Description
On a bed covered with fabric and a split headboard, the woman rests half-naked, a cloth wrapped around her hips, her head on a cushion. Her arms are raised, and her hand brings a cloth to her forehead. Vertical stripes behind the bed suggest a curtain or a wall. There are no other figures or objects.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, was known above all for reproductive engravings after designs by artists such as Raphael. Antique subjects and the depiction of female beauty were highly popular in Italian art of those years. Who commissioned the print or what it originally served is not recorded.
Impact
Fine lines and a calm layout give the print a restrained elegance. The half-naked pose and the gesture of the cloth at the forehead lend the figure drama and vulnerability without being intrusive.
Technique
The print is an engraving: lines are cut into a metal plate and then printed on paper. The precise structure of the drawing and the fine linework are characteristic of Raimondi's hand. At 11.5 × 17.6 cm, it is a small, detailed print.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)