The Death of Cleopatra. Laterally reversed copy after Caspar Netscher in the Staatliche Kunsthalle in Karlsruhe
1813
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1813
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a woman in a flowing white dress sitting on a couch, her arm resting on the back. Behind her, another person leans forward with their hands covering their face. A basket of fruit sits on the floor, and the background is dark with a swirling pattern. The woman’s pose and the fruit basket might hint at a story from history. The lighting creates strong contrasts between light and shadow. Check out the technique called chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark.
