[1] The painting depicts Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, alone in the moments before she commits suicide by submitting to a venomous snakebite.

[2] The pose is based upon that of an ancient statue now known as Sleeping Ariadne, which had been thought to represent Cleopatra wearing a snake-like piece of jewelry on her arm.

[2] Given the close collaboration between father and daughter at the start of Artemisia's career, art historians have struggled to achieve consensus on the attribution of this work.

[4] Extensive restoration work was undertaken in during 1967–1978, revealing a great depth of color and skill in rendering.

Conservators also removed a large strip of canvas from the top of the painting, which was assessed as being a later addition.