Artwork
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is a print by the Romanticist artist J. Perry. It dates from 3 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The name below says this is called *Cleopatra*, but it’s not a painting—it’s a print made in 1812.
This print shows a woman’s head and shoulders with a soft, dreamy look. Her hair is styled in loose curls, and a snake coils around her arm, resting on her shoulder. The background is plain, keeping all focus on her face and the snake.
The name below says this is called *Cleopatra*, but it’s not a painting—it’s a print made in 1812. The artist, Perry, drew it to look like a sculpture or ancient coin.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more prints like this.
Overview
This print, dated 1812, is a representation of Cleopatra attributed to the artist Perry. It is a design for a bust, rendered in a style reminiscent of ancient sculpture or numismatics.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman's head and shoulders, identified as Cleopatra by the inscription. A snake coils around her arm, resting on her shoulder, a motif associated with the ancient Egyptian queen's legendary death.
Technique & Style
The print is executed in a manner that mimics black chalk drawing. It was later reproduced as Plate 35 in Ottley’s 'School of Design' in 1823. The artist's use of a plain background emphasizes the subject's face and the snake.
History & Provenance
The original drawing was created by Perry in 1812. A later print version is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, alongside other similar works.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist made a single surviving print called Cleopatra from 1812. The work shows the Egyptian queen in profile, draped in classical robes next to a palm tree, her hieroglyph-covered obelisk rising behind. The…
