Statue of Cleopatra c. 1754 - 1765

Curator: Here, we have a delicate drawing entitled "Statue of Cleopatra" from circa 1754-1765 by Hubert Robert, rendered in light pencil work on toned paper. Editor: There's such fragility to the piece. The loose lines suggest not just a statue, but the *idea* of Cleopatra, filtered through time, like a whispered rumor. It has the weightlessness of memory, actually. Curator: Yes, Robert really captures a transient moment, an initial sketch perhaps for a grander work. We see the rough outline of what appears to be Cleopatra reclining, draped, classical but also very human. It reminds us that Cleopatra as an icon was still being formed in the 18th century through sculptures like this. Editor: That reclining pose…it echoes countless images of female figures throughout art history. It invites a contemplation of power and vulnerability, doesn't it? The very image of a woman laid bare, quite literally in a statue, ready to seduce or…ready to be scrutinized. It's complex. Curator: Absolutely. Cleopatra's image has always been a negotiation between those opposing ideas. Here, the soft medium and Robert’s rapid strokes add to the layers of interpretation; the way the pencil lines dance across the toned paper feels exploratory. She is presented here not as a factual portrayal, but as a subject for the artist’s contemplation, hinting towards the cultural construction of the ‘Cleopatra’ that endures. Editor: Looking closely, I am curious what symbols Robert had in mind? Maybe he captured her snake bracelet or other signifiers now lost in the incomplete sketching. Still, he gives us a remarkable vision. Curator: A thought-provoking question indeed. While overt symbols aren’t prominent here, the artistic vision captures so much of her allure. Even unfinished, this glimpse sparks a sense of longing, doesn’t it? It underscores Cleopatra's timeless capacity to capture imaginations across eras. Editor: Well said. An eloquent reminder of art’s potential to keep history and image perpetually evolving, never quite settled.