The Triumph of Cleopatra

Why it's great

The Egyptian queen sails in a golden barge, dressed as the goddess Venus, to meet Mark Antony in Tarsus. Etty painted the shimmering scene with rich color and flowing movement. The sails, flowers and attendants are dazzling. It's a lush picture of ancient glamour.

🏛️ Part of history

Cleopatra, Antony & the Rise of the Empire (44 BC – 14 AD) — Etty paints Cleopatra arriving by barge at Tarsus to meet Mark Antony, the famous start of their alliance.

Where to see it

📍 Lady Lever Art GalleryPort Sunlight, United Kingdom

Open in Maps ↗

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 1,000 × 781 px · 0.8 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

William Etty

1787–1849 · born in York

William Etty was born in York, England, and spent his life training to paint like the Old Masters. He is best known for his rich colors and glowing skin tones. He worked in London but retired to his hometown of York. He died there in 1849.