The Mortally wounded Mark Anthony with Cleopatra
1823 - 1825
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
8; 16; 246; 263; 271; 238
About this artwork
buitenmaat: hoogte 246 cm (incl. buitenframe) x breedte 271 cm (incl. buitenframe) x dikte 16 cm (incl. buitenframe)
Art Historical Context
In the grand tradition of 19th-century history painting, Louis Moritz's *The Mortally Wounded Mark Antony with Cleopatra* (1823–1825) captures a pivotal moment from ancient Roman lore. The oil-on-canvas work depicts the tragic lovers in their final hours: Antony, felled by his own hand after defeat at Actium in 31 BCE, cradled by the despairing Cleopatra. Drawing from Plutarch's accounts and Shakespeare's immortal drama, Moritz evokes the pathos of empire's fall, blending raw emotion with classical grandeur. Measuring an imposing 238 × 263 cm, this monumental canvas exemplifies the era's ambi...