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Guido Cagnacci - The Death of Cleopatra 1659

Another piece from Maestro Cagnacci.

1. Click player below to start the music.

2. Click the image above to dive into the art.

3. Study for four minutes this piece of art.

I like the style of the painting, but compared to his other masterpiece ‘Lucretia’ this is pretty lame. The composition is weak, the drama rather pathetic and not worth the death of the great Cleopatra. And the snake is rather puny. The Lady looking at the snake looks more like eating or cuddling it any moment …

Overall this image is way to European and not very Egyptian. I can only suspect that the original buyer wanted to have something with many half-naked ladies?

Art Classic:

Guido Cagnacci - Lucretia 1650

Maestro Cagnacci is a new discovery for me - one I made researching this series about Lucretia. This painting was sold this year (2007) for a staggering 1,4 Million Euros.

1. Click player below to start the music.

2. Click the image to dive into the art.

3. Study for five minutes this great piece of art and all the drama.

Lucretia in her final moments: rapped and dishonored - ready to end her life. Compared to Titian’s, Rembrandt’s and Botticelli’s attempts this one is reigns supreme. It really looks like a snapshot of her last few seconds on this earth. Despair and imminent doom are in her face, the firmly holds the dagger (yes, and this time the deadly iron looks menacing and real).

The whole painting has that timeless feeling: it’s setting isn’t tied to any period, since it’s minimalist and her ripped dress could be almost from any period.

Part of the Art Motive Series: "The Story of Lucretia"