Cleopatra
1524
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Barthel Beham
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page1524
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cleopatra is a 1524 ink by Barthel Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a barefoot woman standing in a forest. She’s naked from the waist up, holding a snake in one hand and a vine in the other. The background is full of trees, plants, and small animals like birds and a rabbit. The title at the top says *Cleopatra*, but this isn’t a portrait—it’s more like a mythical scene. The artist used fine lines and shading to make the details pop, especially the snake’s coils and the leaves. Next, check out how this was made with engraving.
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page
