1621
oil
canvas
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
Dominant colour
The Suicide of Cleopatra is a 1621 oil by Guercino, a Early Baroque Italian work, depicting Suicide, held at Norton Simon Museum.
This painting depicts a woman, presumably Cleopatra, in a moment of distress. She is shown with her head tilted back and her mouth open, as if she has just taken a fatal bite from an asp. The woman's face is contorted in a mixture of pain and despair, while her body is slumped against a stone pedestal. The background of the painting is dark and muted, with subtle hints of red and gold that add a sense of luxury and opulence to the scene. The overall effect is one of tragic beauty, as if the artist has captured the very moment of Cleopatra's demise. If you're interested in learning more about the use of chiaroscuro in art, you might want to explore the works of Caravaggio, a master of the technique.
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
See the richer artist page
