The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra

He then worked under Antony van Dyck, before moving to the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens.

While in Ruben's workshop van Egmont assisted with the Life of Marie de' Medici.

[5] It was after returning to Antwerp around 1650 that he began to work on his own tapestry designs for the Van Leefdael-Van der Strecken-Peemans association.

Given the popularity of the subject, it was not a risk to create a tapestry series based on Caesar's life.

Cleopatra was a common tapestry subject as the Life of Antony in Plutarch's Parallel Lives had been translated and popularized in the 16th century.

[1] The tapestries were commissioned and produced by several of the leading weaving workshops of the time, such as the[7] Van Leefdael-Van der Strecken-Peemans association.

[2] The subject matter of the tapestries demonstrates the interest in female historical figures during the 17th century.

Brussels, c. 1680 Clodius disguised himself as a female flute player to gain access to Caesar's wife, Pompeia, who he desired.

[9]Brussels, c. 1680 A battle from Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul is pictured.Brussels, c. 1680 This scene is most likely meant to portray the battle of Pharsalus, which was the decisive victory in Caesar's civil war with Pompey.Brussels, c. 1680 After Pompey flees to Egypt, Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII, who was fighting a civil war with his sister Cleopatra, has Pompey killed.

[8]Brussels, c. 1680 No event like the scene described was ever recorded, it is possible that the title was given to a design from a different series in order to expand The Story of Cleopatra.

[11]Brussels, c. 1680 While they are fleeing from Alexandria Caesar's boat becomes overrun with enemies but he manages to escape by jumping into the sea and swimming to land.

[8] This scene depicts a lavish dinner that Cleopatra threw to impress Marc Antony.