Cleopatra Putting the Asp to her Bosom c. 19th century

Curator: Right, let’s look at this print, Giovanni Rivera’s Cleopatra Putting the Asp to her Bosom, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh my. It's so… serene, isn’t it? She’s almost gazing upwards in bliss as this tiny serpent approaches. Curator: Rivera, who lived from 1771 to 1861, captured a pivotal moment in history, but also a popular subject in art; that of Cleopatra’s suicide, choosing death over capture by the Romans. Editor: It's strange, the more I look, the more I feel pity rather than admiration. The asp seems almost…pitifully small for such a grand exit. Is it supposed to be beautiful? Curator: Well, ideas of beauty have varied a lot over time. Rivera was likely aiming to illustrate a noble, almost theatrical death scene, in line with Neoclassical sensibilities. Editor: A woman choosing her own destiny, however tragic, I suppose is always compelling. Curator: Absolutely, and it’s a story that continues to resonate with us today. The politics of self-representation, even in death, remain potent. Editor: And I guess it's our interpretations that give it new life, every time we look.