Art History: Cleopatra and Joan of Arc - Essay Example

and Section # of Art History Art History is full of many interesting things. Different eras have absorbed in them different kind of people who have highly influenced art in their own ways. Cleopatra and Joan of Arc are two of those personalities. They have been a subject of fantastic iconography in the past. They had spent interesting lives and ended into miserable deaths. Cleopatra After Cleopatra had died, many things about her life were disclosed. Basically a lot of stuff known about her is all that had been written to picture her politically. Because a lot of stuff about her was written to portray her as a threat to stability of Rome so all we know about her can not be said to be true. It is hard to take out the truth from the illusions. Cassius Dio had told her story and enclosed it as he says "She captivated the two greatest Romans of her day, and because of the third she destroyed herself." Life of Cleopatra When Cleopatra was eighteen years old, she got married to son of Ptolemy who was only nine years old at that time. Cleopatra was an intelligent and power oriented girl. She wanted to rule the throne all by herself. She tried to rule alone and if not alone, at least not equivalent to her brother. Cleopatra's rule was over thrown by the ministers in 48 BCE. In the mean time Pompey came to Egypt while he was being chased by forces of Julius Caesar1. Pompey was killed by Ptolemy XIII. Cleopatra's sister and Ptolemy XIII affirmed herself ruler as Arsinoe IV2. Cleopatra had to win the support of Julius Caesar's, the fasanating stories tell that she wrapped her self in a jewel carpet and presented herself to him. In a fight with Caesar, Ptolemy XIII died, and Caesar returned Cleopatra to power in Egypt and her brother Ptolemy XIV came in as a co-ruler. Cleopatra had a son in 46 BCE, Cleopatra gave her newborn son, the name Ptolemy Caesarion. She claimed that he was Julius Caesar's son and that she was married to him. But Julius Caesar's never accepted to be his father officially but he did take Cleopatra to Rome3. Caesar was murdered in 44 BCE4. After his death Cleopatra returned to Egypt. Here her brother and co-ruler died and she appointed her son as a co-ruler. The next Roman military governor Marc Antony called her to pay a visit with other rulers who were being controlled by Rome. Cleopatra appeared significantly in 41 BCE she was able to convince him that she was innocent of charges put upon her, gained support of Caesar's supporters in Rome and his support too. Antony spent a winter with Cleopatra and they had twins. When he went back he got married to Octavia. Cleopatra had returned to Alexandria and Antony came there in 34 BCE. Cleopatra financed him and he opposed Octavian in the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) but due to few mistakes Cleopatra ended up into defeat. Cleopatra tried her best to agree Octavian to support her children's progression to power but unfortunately failed to come to any agreement. In 30 BCE, Marc Antony was told that Cleopatra had been killed as they say, in distress he killed himself. Death of Cleopatra Octavian had taken over the state of Cleopatra. When his men reached Cleopatra's monument, she did not open and denied to let them enter. The soldiers entered in her monument finally by climbing in by a window. Cleopatra tried to break through but was caught and imprisoned in her mausoleum. Cleopatra wanted to die as her ego had been hurt. So she worked out on a plan to commit suicide. It is said that as a first step Cleopatra acted as if she was not feeling well. Octavian sent for a doctor. When the physician came, Cleopatra whispered something to him and he went away. She was well again. She asked for fabulous clothes and finest jewelry. She took a bath and wished to go to Anthony's tomb which she was allowed. When she returned from there Cleopatra, she asked for a big feast. Surprisingly, Octavian did not raise any objection on all this. So Cleopatra sat with her servants and had her meal but not a word was said. After the meal had finished there came a strange old lady at the door of Cleopatra's mausoleum. She asked the guards if she could present a basket of figs to the queen. The old lady put the basket in front of Cleopatra, bowed to her, and left. No one had realized what the basket contained actually. Almost at the same time, Octavian received a note. When he opened it not knowing who had sent, he found it was from Cleopatra. It had an appeal for permission that Cleopatra should be buried in Antony's tomb. He instantly sent his servants to keep a watch on her5. Although the guards were hurried to her, still it was too late. When they reached Cleopatra was already dead and was lying in her bed, her two servants were dieing at her feet. Cleopatra's neck bore two pricks. Many people believe that Cleopatra had ordered someone to bring an asp in the basket of figs so that she could commit suicide. Her two servants, Iras and Charmain, also repeated what Cleopatra had done and let the asp bite them. Her last wish to be buried with Mark Antony was granted. Now more than two thousand years have passed after her death. Even after such a long time she is still known to be one of the greatest rulers of Egypt. She had controlled the destiny of nations where women were not respected and looked down upon. Egypt was so dependent on her that after she failed, Egypt slowly disappeared and merged into the Roman Empire and the Mediterranean is now a Roman lake. Many samples of Art are related to her beauty, throne, power and showing the intelligence of the queen. She brought an end to the Hellenistic Era. Egypt was one of the first chief civilizations who illustrated design elements in the form of art. The pyramids of pharos. The Frescos that had iconography on them are no doubt wonders of the world. Cleopatra was known for her beauty and still after thousands of years of after she had died, art is related to her. The Egyptians pictured her life with the help of iconography. Not only Egypt but British and Americans have also captured her beauty in many ways. Her beauty is sketched, carved, and illustrated. The painting which I am about to describe is a beautiful portrait of death of Cleopatra. The Death of Cleopatra The death of Cleopatra was painted by Guido Cagnacci in 1658. In this painting the painter has pictured the time when Cleopatra was lying dead. Guido Cagnacci was an Italian artist. He was inspired by the death of the queen. The artist has painted a remarkable painting. The painting is in oil medium. In the painting Cleopatra the queen of Egypt is sitting on a chair. The chair has been painted in red color. The queen is a beautiful woman. In the painting she sits dead on the chair with her head bowed on one side. She has been shown naked. The main idea of her nakedness is to capture the beauty of the lady as it has always been rumored. Cleopatra's fair complexion is standing out against the red color of the chair. There is a Blue and white piece of cloth on her laps covering half of her body6. On her right arm the artist has shown an asp. This is to portray the myth that she had been bitten by the asp. Six handmaidens are gathered around the dead body of Cleopatra. These are most probably the ones that were sent by Octavian to see if she is alright but they have just reached to find out that Cleopatra is already dead. The servants seem worried. One at the back is crying while other is trying to have a look at Cleopatra. One is in a half bent situation as if trying to see the snake that had bitten the Queen. Joan of Arc Joana of Arc was a national heroin of France of 15th century. Unfortunately she had a life of only 19 years. She persued that she had visions from God which signaled that she must recover her homeland from English domination. She was convicted of heresy by politically motivated trials. Life of Joan Joan of Arc was daughter of Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Rome born in 1412. Her parents owned their own land at the village where they lived and her father was also at position of a village official who collected taxes and headled local watch. They logged in an isolated patch of northeastern. She reported that the first vision she had was at the age of twelve. That was the time when three saints told her that she should drive away the English. When she was sixteen years old she petationed a commander when she asked a kinsman to bring her nearby vaucouleurs and asked for a premission to be visited to Royal French Court which she was not granted. On the following Janruary two standing men supported her and she gave her second interview. That was the moment when she made the remarkable prediction that the military will be reversed near orlands. She was escorted to the Chinon by Robert de Baudricourt after her prediction got confirmed. She disguised herself as a male to pass the Burgundian territory. Charles was impressed by her private conference and he ordered for her background inquiries so her mortality could be verified. Joan went for relief expedition to Orleans dressed as a knight as her amour, sword, horse, entourage and banner were donated. Some people say that her attraction was the only reason why she was granted permission to lead the army7. But basically it is said that she had her set of standards and moral was the primary effect. The fortress of Saint Loup was captured by the French and on the right next day she marched to the second fortress called Saint Jean le Blanc8. This was a fantastic victory as it contained no bloodshed. Then again at another event she rode with only one captain and captured the fortress of saint Augstains9. Generations have passed and she is still acknowledged as a heroin, from after she maintained an arrow wound on her neck. When she returned she was wounded. Orleans sudden victory led to offensive actions. The English wanted to recapture Paris. She was able to convince the prince Charles to give her the co-command of army and she wanted to recapture nearby bridges because they were in enemy territory. Finally the French army had gone for Reims and accepted the surrender of Bergundian-held city. All the towns on the way were returned to France. Again after a bloodless blockade the Troyes site of treaty had been trying to cut off Charlse. The coronation took place and royal court pursued a negotiation with the duke of Burgundy. Death of Joan Joan went to Compiegne as a defendant against English and Burgundian siege in April. She was captured on May 23 1430 in a combat10. At that time captives of war could be released if they gave the ransom but her family was poor and could not afford it. It is considered a pity that Charles did not appear to pay for her release. Her efforts did not stop here. She was a freedom lover as she always fought for freedom how could she be comfortable with her imprisonment! She tried to escape many times but was unfortunately caught. Eventually the English government bought her from the Duke Philip. But this was not the end of her miseries. Joan was politically motivated as a trail of heresy. The legal proceedings had started on 9th January 1431 at Rouen which was under English occupation government. Joan was sexually assaulted in the prison and she had to dress as male because she was left with nothing to wear. It was later described by an eyewitness that she was tied to a tall pillar when she asked two men to hold a cross in front of her. A peasant made a small cross which was put on the front of her dress. When she died the English men burned her body so that they could make sure she died. This they did not commit only once but again she was burnt for the second time so that nothing of her remained. And no body could even collect her ashes. In 1456, the pope declared that she was innocent and was pure of heresy charges, put upon her but surely it was too late11. No doubt she was declared innocent it was of no use because she was already killed badly. She was a beauty not only by face but also by her soul. All her life she had fought for human and in the end human were the ones who put her to death for her hospitality. She had been a great subject to the baroque and gothic art. This iconography has beautifully pictured her despair. She had been a successful woman despite her short life span. She had achieved a lot in her life but her fate had betrayed her well. She had to bear the misery of her painful death just like Cleopatra. The following painting describes the sore death of Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc at the Stake The artist of the painting is 'Jules Eugene Lenepevu'. The painting is made in oil medium on canvas in France. French people take Joan as a national heroin of France. The artist has beautifully portrayed the execution of Joan and the reason for her death. We can also feel the strong faith of Joan by looking at the painting. In the painting Joan is shown tied to a long pillar with the help of chain. She is looking upward which is a depiction that she was a holy person and she had visions from God. A peasant wearing a blue robe is holding the cross from one end and the top of it is being held by Joan with both hands. The artist has created a dramatic situation. Joan is wearing white clothes which again are a symbol of her purity and innocence. Many bundles of wood are lying at her feet and one soldier is bringing more bundles. This is a sign that Joan was burnt alive. At the background the sky is dark which also adds to the evil deed of her killing. There are buildings in the background. And in the mid ground we can see a soldier standing proudly. In the foreground there are also a number of swords held up in the air and helmets of soldiers can be seen. This is a clear depiction of the enmity of English against her. Hence this is another remarkable piece of art depicting the History12. Conclusion History is full of many great people. Humans who have spent their lives fighting for the right thing like Mother Teresa and people who have wasted their lives to waste others like Hitler. The end of every person is death. The queen Cleopatra and Saint Joan were two of the great personalities whose names have survived. While we look at their lives and their pathetic deaths, we can realize that the ultimate truth can never be buried. After the death of Queen Cleopatra much political propaganda were made to prove her wrong and evil but her name could not be erased from the books of history. Joan was exploited for her religious approach but was proven that she was not guilty. Not even in Arts but in many other fields, these two women are still an essential part of the readings. Many paintings have been painted on them and many movies have been made. And this is yet not the end of their fame. Works Cited Ernle Bradford Cleopatra. Published Penguin. 2000 Jane Turner The Dictionary of Art Published Grove1996 John Denison Champlin, Charles Callahan Perkins Cyclopedia of Painters and Paintings Published Empire State Book Co. 1927 Kenyon Cox Old Masters and New: Essays in Art Criticism Published 1905 Fox, Duffield & Company Louis Conte Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. Published Kessinger Publishing 2005 Richard V. West Handbook of Paintings Crocker Art Museum Published The Museum.1979. http://archive.joan-of-arc.org/joanofarc_short_biography.html#early http://penelope.uchicago.edu/grout/encyclopaedia_romana/miscellanea/cleopatra/cleopatra.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc Bibliography Cleopatra and Joan of Arc are the two perfect examples of how history has treated success, when it came to women. Cleopatra was the supreme ruler of Egypt, whereas Joan of Arc gained immense recognition through her heroic works and act during her small life period. But their ends are sad as they were targets of feminism. The objects of art that I choose, i.e. their iconography, sadly depict the pain that they must have gone through while they saw death. The following books will help me in my research for the thesis statement. THE LAST QUEENS OF EGYPT: The book, penned by Sally-Ann Ashton, very beautifully portrays the women who ruled the Pharaoh Dynasty, popularly known as the Ptolemaic women. They ruled Egypt, collectively, for a long time period of three hundred years. Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh Dynasty ruler. The era ended with her end. The effect of her predecessors on her reign has been very thoroughly researched and shown in this book. Most importantly, the book tells us about the death of Cleopatra which is the most important for my research. The most common belief about Cleopatra's death was that it was the result of a suicide attempt that she made with an asp. An asp is a reptile that Cleopatra believed hurt the least if used to die with. Cleopatra's death was also accompanied by the death of her two handmaidens. JOAN OF ARC: THE EARLY DEBATE: This book has been comprehensively researched and written by Fraioli. He very thoroughly informs us about the life happenings of Joan of Arc, who was also known as Jeanne d' Arc. There were many controversies and debates about the small period of life that she lived. She was only alive for a mere 19 years and was executed for a crime she was not even guilty of. Her trial was not only religiously, but politically motivated. She was blamed of heresy, which is the religious opinion that one maintains irrespective of its contradiction with the opinions of the Catholic Church. She was ruthlessly executed, then burnt twice and relics were scattered off. She was declared innocent and a martyr in 1456, 24 years after her death. CLEOPATRA OF EGYPT: FROM HISTORY TO MYTH. This book has been collectively written and edited by Susan Walker and Peter Higgs who talks in detail about Cleopatra and her representation in the Egyptian era as well as in all the era that followed her suicide. She was a truly an exemplary woman in terms of confidence, bravery and head-strong. She has been used as a character in iconography since time immemorial due to the characteristics that she possessed. Moreover, they introduce the concept of iconography as well relating it to Cleopatra. They say that iconography was introduced as a branch of art history, which overall deals with image writing. It is all about describing an image in words. Further, he elaborates that if you do iconography, you identify various parts and components present in the image, you describe them in a way which enhances your understanding and then you interpret their meaning as content, as a whole picture and as individual parts of the picture. Iconography in terms of my two objects has artistically depicted the pain and sadness that the two women were going through. Cleopatra has been shown to lay back, dead with the poison inflicted by the asp, surrounded by dead handmaidens, who died with her in loyalty. Joan of Arc's image depicts the injustice done to this teenage girl. The merciless treatment and her agony are reflected by the expressions in her drawings. SIGNS OF CLEOPATRA: Mary Hammer has shown the true picture of Cleopatra by unveiling the concept of feminism and the feminist side of the strong and famous lady. Feminism is a concept, ideology, movement, theories, and philosophies - many things depicting the power of women and how they are not always treated equally to the other sex. The book tells us that Cleopatra used her power as a woman, never got undermined with the discrimination that is often inflicted on women due to the fact that they are the weaker sex. The concept changes many things, how a woman thinks as well as the lifestyles of both the sexes. Therefore, the author has focused on the live debates as well as the fierce controversies that Cleopatra faced while she was a ruler and which evoked her to be a true representation of the feminist concept. Cleopatra was depicted in various ways in different generations and being a symbol of feminism is something which has stayed common for her over all these eras. JEANNE D' ARC: This book, written by Maurice Monvel, has focused on Jeanne d' Arc as depicted through iconography. It has shown the true picture of what went behind the life of the 19 year old Joan all those years that she lived. She defines the three waves of feminism, which have defined and improved the concept of feminism and then fits Joan of Arc under one of these waves as had made significant difference. Moreover, the author has applied various concepts to explain the mind frame as well as thought processes that went in Joan's mind when she was so near her death. Furthermore, she has focused on the elements that were used to depict this death through the use of iconography. Read More