The artwork titled “Cleopatra” was created by the renowned artist Michelangelo in 1534, in Rome, Italy. It exemplifies the Mannerism art movement, which is characteristic of the Late Renaissance period. The portrait measures 35.5 by 25 centimeters and is currently housed at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. As a genre, it is identified as a portrait.
The artwork portrays the historical figure Cleopatra, strikingly presented with an introspective expression. Michelangelo’s mastery is evident in the delicate rendering of her features, which convey a complex interplay of emotions. Cleopatra is depicted with an intricate hairstyle and possibly wearing regal attire, which underscores her status as a queen. The medium appears to be red chalk, which Michelangelo often employed in his drawings, allowing for both precise lines and soft shading that accentuates the three-dimensional form of her figure. The intimate scale of the piece invites close observation, highlighting the artist’s ability to balance grace with a vivid sense of character, an embodiment of the sophisticated elegance sought in Mannerist art.
