Who painted Cleopatra?

Cleopatra was painted by Rosso Fiorentino in 1532.

Where can I see Cleopatra?

Cleopatra is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Cleopatra?

Cleopatra is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Cleopatra

Rosso Fiorentino , 1532

Cleopatra is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Rosso Fiorentino. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Rosso Fiorentino’s oil painting titled Cleopatra, executed around 1532, is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. The work presents a quiet, intimate tableau that combines classical references with the artist’s distinctive Mannerist sensibility.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a reclining female figure, draped partially in a green cloth, her head tipped back and eyes closed, suggesting a moment of repose. A serpent coils around her right arm, a traditional emblem of the Egyptian queen’s legendary death, while a second woman stands beside her, hand resting gently on the reclined figure’s shoulder, implying care or mourning.

Technique & Style

Fiorentino employs a restrained palette dominated by deep shadows and muted tones, allowing the luminous flesh and the green fabric to emerge. The figures are rendered with elongated proportions and graceful poses characteristic of early 16th‑century Mannerism, while the dark background heightens the drama of the foreground scene.

History & Provenance

Created in the early 1530s, the painting eventually entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is not extensively documented, but the work has been recognized as a notable example of Fiorentino’s later output.

Context

Rosso Fiorentino, a Florentine painter associated with the court of the Medici, was known for his expressive figures and inventive compositions. This work reflects the period’s fascination with classical antiquity and the mythic narratives surrounding Cleopatra, a subject frequently revisited by Renaissance artists to explore themes of power, beauty, and tragedy.