Artwork
Selbstmord der Kleopatra
Selbstmord der Kleopatra is an oil painting by Guido Cagnacci. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Selbstmord der Kleopatra is a 17th-century oil painting created by Italian Baroque artist Guido Cagnacci around 1642. The work depicts the death of Cleopatra in a characteristic Baroque style.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Cleopatra at the moment of her death, a theme frequently explored in Baroque art. Her reclined, nude figure, with a draped cloth, conveys vulnerability and mortality.
Technique & Style
Cagnacci employs chiaroscuro, a hallmark of the Baroque period, to create dramatic contrast between light and dark. This technique emphasizes Cleopatra's face and body, evoking tension and drama, characteristic of the Bolognese School's influence on the artist.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, reflecting its significance within European Baroque art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Guido Cagnacci (Italian: ; 13 January 1601 – 1663) was an Italian Baroque painter originally from Santarcangelo di Romagna.
