Tarquin and Lucretia and Cleopatra Honored with Gifts 1745 - 1750

This etching, created by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo in the mid-18th century, depicts two scenes in oval frames. The left depicts the Roman legend of Tarquin and Lucretia, a tragic tale of rape and revenge. On the right, Cleopatra, the last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, is being showered with gifts by her subjects. This pair of etchings, which are now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, are a fine example of Tiepolo’s Rococo style. The dramatic lighting, dynamic composition, and attention to detail create a powerful visual impact. The etching’s small size and intimate scale make it a perfect example of 18th-century printmaking, when such works were often produced for private collections.