The Banquet of Anthony and Cleopatra
Medium
Etching; first state
Dimensions
sheet: 6 13/16 x 4 13/16 in. (17.3 x 12.3 cm) image: 5 7/8 x 4 1/4 in. (15 x 10.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1921
Accession Number
21.53
Tags
Art Historical Context
This etching captures the legendary banquet of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, a dramatic encounter from ancient history where the Egyptian queen famously dissolved a pearl in vinegar to win a wager of extravagance. Created between 1763 and 1764, the print draws on the enduring fascination with this tale of power, romance, and opulence, rendered through delicate lines that highlight the intimate dining scene with figures gathered around a lavish table. As a first-state etching, the work exemplifies the medium’s ability to disseminate artistic ideas widely during the 18th century. The collaboration...
About the Artist
Jean Honoré Fragonard|Giovanni Battista Tiepolo · 1732–1806
Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) was a French painter and printmaker whose late Rococo manner was distinguished by remarkable facility, exuberance, and hedonism. Born in Grasse, he moved to Paris where he trained under Jean-Baptiste Chardin and François Boucher, winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1752. After studying in Italy alongside Hubert Robert, Fragonard returned to Paris in 1761 to fi...