POST MEDIEVAL CAMEO SHOWING THE DEATH OF CLEOPATRA 18th century AD A large oval sardonyx intaglio with a carved scene of a central female figure leaning on a chair, most likely Cleopatra, surrounded by four mourning females, standing Cupid bearing against a torch(?), a large drape between two columns with Greco-Egyptian style statuettes to the background. 36 grams, 73mm (3"). Extremely fine condition. Provenance From an important London, W1, collection; acquired from S.J. Philips; formerly part of the Esmerian collection. Footnotes Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last member of the Ptolemaic dynasty to rule over Egypt and was famously associated with both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony before she committed suicide after her defeat by Octavian Caesar, later the Emperor Augustus, at the battle of Actium. Cleopatra was the only member of the dynasty to speak the native Egyptian language and strongly identified herself with the Egyptian religion, patronising important temples such as that dedicated to the goddess Hathor at Denderah. Her death was a popular subject in art since early 17th century, when William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' was performed, inspiring other works of art such as this intaglio.
POST MEDIEVAL CAMEO SHOWING THE DEATH OF CLEOPATRA 18th century AD A large oval sardonyx intaglio with a carved scene of a central female figure leaning on a chair, most likely Cleopatra, surrounded by four mourning females, standing Cupid bearing against a torch(?), a large drape between two columns with Greco-Egyptian style statuettes to the background. 36 grams, 73mm (3"). Extremely fine condition. Provenance From an important London, W1, collection; acquired from S.J. Philips; formerly part of the Esmerian collection. Footnotes Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last member of the Ptolemaic dynasty to rule over Egypt and was famously associated with both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony before she committed suicide after her defeat by Octavian Caesar, later the Emperor Augustus, at the battle of Actium. Cleopatra was the only member of the dynasty to speak the native Egyptian language and strongly identified herself with the Egyptian religion, patronising important temples such as that dedicated to the goddess Hathor at Denderah. Her death was a popular subject in art since early 17th century, when William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Antony and Cleopatra' was performed, inspiring other works of art such as this intaglio.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
