Who painted The Banquet of Cleopatra?

The Banquet of Cleopatra was painted by Gerard de Lairesse in 1677-01-01.

Where can I see The Banquet of Cleopatra?

The Banquet of Cleopatra is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is The Banquet of Cleopatra?

The Banquet of Cleopatra is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of The Banquet of Cleopatra?

Museum-quality prints of The Banquet of Cleopatra are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Banquet of Cleopatra

Gerard de Lairesse , 1689

The Banquet of Cleopatra is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard de Lairesse. It dates from 1689 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The scene emphasizes excess and dramatic display, aligning with the Baroque taste for theatricality and moralizing narratives.

The Banquet of Cleopatra depicts the legendary encounter between Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), a subject drawn from Plutarch’s Life of Antony. In the painting, Cleopatra is shown hosting Antony in a lavish setting, where she dissolves a priceless pearl earring in vinegar to win a wager, demonstrating both her wealth and cunning. The scene emphasizes excess and dramatic display, aligning with the Baroque taste for theatricality and moralizing narratives.

The work’s iconography underscores themes of feminine power and political stratagem, contrasting Cleopatra’s calculated generosity with Antony’s susceptibility to spectacle. The pearl’s dissolution symbolizes the fleeting nature of luxury and the high stakes of rivalry, while the opulent surroundings reflect the decadence associated with Cleopatra’s court.

Technique & Style

Gerard de Lairesse created The Banquet of Cleopatra in 1677 as a history painting executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 74 cm in height and 95.5 cm in width, adhering to the formal conventions of the genre while depicting the historical figure Cleopatra within a banquet setting. As a history painting, the composition relies on the narrative capabilities of the oil medium to render the scene's figures and context with the precision expected of the period.

History & Provenance

Gerard de Lairesse created the oil painting The Banquet of Cleopatra in 1677. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 74 cm in height by 95.5 cm in width. It depicts the historical scene of Cleopatra at a banquet. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Legacy

The Banquet of Cleopatra influenced 18th-century European decorative arts and interior design, particularly through Lairesse's compositional treatment of lavish banquets and exoticized female subjects. The work's visual language recurred in French salon paintings and Dutch Regency interiors, where its arrangement of figures and ornamental details informed contemporary tastes in domestic decoration. Its reputation as a symbol of sensual opulence persisted through 19th-century literary references, though direct attribution in museum collections remains limited to contextual citations in decorative arts scholarship.

Overview

The Banquet of Cleopatra, a 1689 oil painting by Gerard de Lairesse, is a history painting depicting a scene from classical antiquity. Characterized by classical influences, it exemplifies the artist's adherence to French classicism and theoretical art principles.

Context

This painting embodies the artistic and intellectual climate of its time, blending Dutch Golden Age practices with broader European classical ideals, as outlined in de Lairesse's influential art treatises.