The Duchess of Maine as Cleopatra
1696
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
1696
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
This painting depicts a woman in a red dress, standing beside a table with a large vase and a small cup. She is holding the cup in her right hand and has her left arm extended, with her hand pointing to the left. The woman's dark hair is styled in an updo, and she wears a gold headpiece. The woman's red dress features a plunging neckline and puffy sleeves, with a black belt around her waist. The background of the painting is dark, with some light shining down on the woman. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and drama in the painting. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
