In this pen and ink drawing Guercino imagines the encounter of the Roman emperor Augustus and Cleopatra, vanquished queen of Egypt. Despite the isolation of the figures, their emphatic gestures and postures give a clear sense of the narrative. Proud Cleopatra respectfully addresses the victorious ruler who reacts in a haughty manner. The impact of the scene is heightened by the realistic details and textures of clothing, jewellery and hair that enliven the characters.

by descent to the artist's nephews, Benedetto Gennari (1633-1715) and Cesare Gennari (1637-1688), 1666; by descent to Cesare’s sons, Gianfrancesco Gennari (1671-1727) and Filippo Antonio Gennari (1677-1751), 1719; by descent to Gianfrancesco's son, Carlo Gennari (1716-1790); presumably Francesco Forni, Bologna (18th century) or Abbé Bonducci, Florence (18th century); presumably acquired from either of those by John Bouverie, England (ca. 1722/1723-1750), 1741 or 1745; by descent to his sister, Anne Hervey (d. 1757); by descent to her son, Christopher Hervey (d. 1786); by descent to his aunt, Elizabeth Bouverie (d. 1798); by descent to Sir Charles Middleton, later 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813); by descent to his son-in-law, Sir Gerard Noel, 2nd Baron Barham (1759-1838); by descent to his son, Charles Noel, later 1st Earl of Gainsborough (1781-1866); by descent to Charles Noel, 3rd Earl of Gainsborough (1850-1926); his sale, Christie's (London), 27 July 1922, part of lot 81 (a box containing 68 drawings by Guercino and others); purchased there by F.R. Meatyard (London) on behalf of Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952) (£90 for the lot); Witt Bequest 1952

Guercino - Mind to Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 22/02/2007-13/05/2007

Guercino - Mind to Paper, J Paul Getty Museum & Los Angeles & California & USA, 24/10/2006-21/01/2007

Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943

Guercino: Mind to paper, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Courtauld Gallery, London, 2006-2007 Los Angeles, 2006
no. 27
Fig. p. 80

Mahon, Denis and Nicholas Turner, The drawings of Guercino in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1989
p. 59

Drawings of the old masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1943
no. 24

Watermark: Watermarks: centre: crown above a small shield containing a 4-lobed flower (?) in the upper portion and four curved lines in the lower portion (no match found in Briquet, Heawood or Piccard). Mount (Casa Gennari), Verso: centre: circle containing a stag (?); above the circle is the letter “P” (no match found in Briquet, Heawood or Piccard).

Inscription: Recto: lower left corner, graphite: "1".

Collector's mark: Mount (historic), Verso: lower right corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).