Guido Reni-Workshop (1575-1642)

CLEOPATRA

1635-40
Oil on canvas. 90x120 cm. Framed in a gilded blondel frame. Marked in ink "Signor Goring" on the blind frame. The subject of the painting depicts the last moments of the life of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, who is about to commit suicide, as narrated by Plutarch in his Life of the Emperors. Guido Reni has chosen to depict the moment when the snake that was smuggled to Cleopatra in the basket with figs, shown on the table on the right, is about to plant a fatal bite in her naked breast. Reni heightened the dramatic power of the painting by the stark contrast between Cleopatra`s fair complexion and the dark background of the painting. Her semi-nude figure is partially obscured by the light drapery. The naturalism of her expression is accompanied by a compositional and, above all, colour balance in the painting that is not found in later copies of this subject. It is Reni`s precise draughtsmanship and masterly use of coloured valers that show the extraordinary quality of the work, even though the optical impression is greatly affected by the layer of old, yellowed varnish. Guido Reni often reworked successful compositions, returning to the theme of Cleopatra frequently throughout his career and creating many variations of this painting. His versions can be found in the Museo Capitolino in Rome, the Prado in Madrid, the Pitti Palace in Florence, and the British Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. Condition B. This painting does not appear on any of the available lists of stolen or missing works. At the same time, it is not listed in the inventory of "Die Kunstsammlung Hermann Göring" as reported by the Deutsches Historisches Museum. https://www.dhm.de/datenbank/goering/dhm_goering.php?seite=9. The question remains, therefore, how the Reichsmarschall`s name came to be on the back of the painting`s stretcher frame. The most likely explanation seems to be that it was shortlisted by one of Göring`s "court" suppliers, but never made it into his collection. It was offered for sale from the estate of a collector whose collection included items of outstanding quality.