Cleopatra Seated

Sebald Beham

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a person seated with legs crossed and one arm on their lap, head tilted slightly to the left. They have curly, shoulder-length hair and soft facial features. The person wears a robe that drapes over one shoulder, leaving the other bare, with a sash tied at the waist. A serpent is wrapped around their arm and hand. The setting is a sparsely decorated room with bars on a window, chains on the ground, and walls with what seems to be an empty circular window or vent. The overall composition is detailed, resembling an etching or engraved artwork.