Cleopatra Seated
1542
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Sebald Beham
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
See the richer artist page1542
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cleopatra Seated is a 1542 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman kneeling by a window with a small paned glass pane. She’s half-dressed, wearing a loose robe but no shoes, and her hair is piled up. A chain lies on the floor beside her, and a mirror leans against the wall. The room looks plain, with a simple ledge and a small box on the sill. Notice how the artist used tiny parallel lines to create shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. It gives the scene a detailed, almost three-dimensional look. Want to see more like this? Look up engraving.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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