Cleopatra Dissolves a Pearl in a Cup of Vinegar, 1600s, Oil on Canvas

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Oil on canvas. Roman school of the second half of the 17th century. The scene tells an episode of the … Read more Oil on canvas. Roman school of the second half of the 17th century. The scene tells an episode of the love story between the queen of Egypt and the Roman triumvir Antony: Cleopatra, to demonstrate her wealth and seduce the handsome general, sets up a sumptuous banquet, during who chooses a pearl of inestimable value and dissolves it in vinegar, then offering the drink, considered a powerful aphrodisiac, to Antonio. In the painting the queen is preparing to put the pearl in the cup: the ribbon to which the pearl is tied is particular, reminiscent of that of the painting of the same name by Carlo Maratta (1625 -1713). Restored and relined, the painting is presented in a wooden frame from the end of the 19th century. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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