Death of Cleopatra 1547

Augustin Hirschvogel’s 1547 etching, “Death of Cleopatra,” depicts the legendary queen of Egypt in a reclining pose, her body laid out in a dramatic landscape setting. The image showcases Hirschvogel’s mastery of detail, portraying the topography of a river winding through a valley, a city in the background and a fortress perched on a distant hill. This artwork highlights the Renaissance interest in historical and mythological subjects, while showcasing the artist’s meticulous rendering of the human form and the natural world.