Romanticism, and how it has influenced that art of today.
Delacroix’s Cleopatra and the Peasant is not only a beautiful and vivid painting of the Egyptian queen, but it provides a strong message of love and power as well.
Eugene Delacroix is one of the most well known Romantic painters in the world, his work is one of great detail, tonal variance and life-like portraiture. The above painting is one of his most wellknown, and is my favourite.
“The first thing that catches the audience’s eye is Cleopatra herself. This image of her is quite different than the stereotypical dark, native Egyptian that is present in some modern art. In Delacroix’s painting she appears to be quite pale. When you juxtapose this skin tone with the dark surroundings, the painting sticks out to the audience.”
Cleopatra is first recognized by the expression on her face, she is staring over at the snake in a trance-like state. The snake is amongst fig leaves, which are an important symbol throughout Christian theology,
Fig trees/leaves are symbols of God’s love for his blessing and his special love for people ("The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.") Even though Cleopatra is not a Christian, this scene was painted in France during the mid nineteenth century, historically a very Christian country. Cleopatra wants to kill herself, but according to Christian theology, it is a sin to take one’s own life.
The presence of the snake symbolizes evil or death in humans when it comes to God’s blessing (the figs.) Delacroix knew the audience he was painting for so perhaps he wanted to include Christian symbolism.
The presence of red on the left side could show love, which was her main incentive to kill herself (because Anthony was already dead.) Delacroix might also be trying to say something about a ruler’s quest for power. Because Cleopatra knew her reign as queen of Egypt was over maybe that was the primary reason she wanted to die. That would explain her extravagant clothing and jewelry, yet miserable expression present on the right side. Cleopatra realizes that all of the luxury of being a queen is about to be taken from her and at the same time sees the poisonous snake which leads to her deadly decision.
Historically this painting was painted in 1838, about 20 years after the famous Napoleon’s last Hundred Days. Cleopatra can symbolize the famous French leader’s quest for power and inevitable failure. This painting might also symbolize the inevitable failure of monarchies, considering a peasant is standing near Cleopatra and in a better position to keep his life than she is. Overall, the emotional layers in the painting are perfect examples of the tone in Romantic paintings for which Delacroix was celebrated.
This painting helps to visually create a scene from a play, and does so perfectly well. Cleopatra is painted uniquely and if you do not look hard enough, you might miss the important snake within the figs. The realistic beauty as well as the symbolic significance makes this painting very relevant in art history.
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