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Caesar Sends a Messenger to Cleopatra from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra

A work made of wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave warp: count: 8 warps per cm; wool: s-ply of three z-spun elements; diameters: o.6–0.8 mm weft: count: varies from 18 to 42 wefts per cm; wool: s-ply of two z-spun elements; pairs of s-ply of two z-spun elements; diameters: 0.4–1.2 mm; silk: pairs and three yarns of s-ply of two z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.7–1.2 mm; wool and silk: paired yarns of s-ply of two z-spun wool elements and s-ply of two z-twisted silk elements; diameters: 0.8–1.2 mm.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave warp: count: 8 warps per cm; wool: s-ply of three z-spun elements; diameters: o.6–0.8 mm weft: count: varies from 18 to 42 wefts per cm; wool: s-ply of two z-spun elements; pairs of s-ply of two z-spun elements; diameters: 0.4–1.2 mm; silk: pairs and three yarns of s-ply of two z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.7–1.2 mm; wool and silk: paired yarns of s-ply of two z-spun wool elements and s-ply of two z-twisted silk elements; diameters: 0.8–1.2 mm.

Date:

c. 1680

Artist:

After a design by Justus van Egmont (1601–1674)
Produced at the workshop of Willem van Leefdael (1632–1688)
Brussels

About this artwork

This tapestry is from the Art Institute’s suite of 14 hangings depicting events from the lives of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra, whose intertwined love affairs and conflicts have provided material for storytellers from Roman times to the present day. After Caesar defeated Pompey, his rival for control of the Roman Republic, Pompey fled to Egypt, pursued by Caesar. In Egypt Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII was fighting a civil wat against his sister, wife, and co-regent, Cleopatra VII. Ptolemy had Pompey murdered, offending Caesar, who then involved himself in the Egyptian civil war. Caesar deposed Ptolemy and sought an alliance with Cleopatra. Depicted here is Cleopatra receiving Caesar’s messenger, the beginning of their alliance and love affair.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Textiles

Artists

Workshop of Willem van Leefdael (Manufacturer) , Justus van Egmont

Title

Caesar Sends a Messenger to Cleopatra from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra, Caesar Sends a Messenger to Cleopatra from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra

Places

Flanders (Object made in:), Brussels (Object made in:)

Date

Made 1675-1685

Medium

Wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 8 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of three Z-spun elements; diameters: o.6–0.8 mm Weft: Count: varies from 18 to 42 wefts per cm; wool: S-ply of two Z-spun elements; pairs of S-ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.4–1.2 mm; silk: pairs and three yarns of S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.7–1.2 mm; wool and silk: paired yarns of S-ply of two Z-spun wool elements and S-ply of two Z-twisted silk elements; diameters: 0.8–1.2 mm

Inscriptions

Marked and signed: Brussels city mark; G·V·LEEFAEL Inscribed: CAESA· MITITIT / LEGATVM·AD / CLEOPATRAM (Caesar sends a messenger to Cleopatra)

Dimensions

310.1 × 363.8 cm (122 1/8 × 143 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Chauncey McCormick and Mrs. Richard Ely Danielson

Reference Number

1944.10

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/142548/manifest.json

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Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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