$350
Continental School, 19th century. "Woman with Asp", oil on canvas, apparently unsigned. Dutch master style painting depicts a female figure at center, possibly representative of Cleopatra in Arabian style dress with jeweled scarf to hear head covering curled brown hair, the woman's glassy eyes peering upward as she clasps an asp to her bared chest with blood flowing from its mouth, the woman wearing draped clothing of rich silks, a strand of pears to her throat, and drop earrings. According to legend, after the suicide of Antony, Cleopatra committed suicide through the bite of an asp. However, in reality, Cleopatra committed suicide through a combination of toxic ingredients including hemlock and opium. The fictious story with the asp, however, hasn't left cultural reference--William Shakespeare's play "Antony & Cleopatra" join imagery of the asp and the figure of Cleopatra stating "With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate_x000D_
Auctioneer:
Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery
Date:
2016-12-04
