The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

Cleopatra with the Asp

early 1500s

Northern Italy, early 16th century

bronze

Lent by Anne Rorimer 5.1976

Location: 117A Italian Renaissance

Description

Ancient tragic heroines such as Cleopatra were venerated in the Renaissance for their commitment to honor. Rather than be paraded by the Roman emperor Augustus as a symbol of his triumph over Egypt, Cleopatra allegedly provoked a snake into delivering a fatal bite to her breast. This statuette emulates an ancient bronze.

{{cite web|title=Cleopatra with the Asp|url=false|author=|year=early 1500s|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/5.1976