Art Institute of Chicago

The Battle of Actium from The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra

After a design by Justus van Egmont (1601–1674)

Date

c. 1680

Medium

Wool and silk, slit and double interlocking tapestry weave Warp: Count: 9 warps per cm; wool: S-ply of three Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.5–0.9 mm. Weft: Count: varies from 22 to 37 wefts per cm; wool: S ply of two Z-spun elements; diameters: 0.4–0.8 mm; silk: pairs and three yarns of S-ply of two Z-twisted elements; diameters: 0.6–0.9 mm; wool and silk: paired yarns of S-ply of two Z-spun wool elements and S-ply of two Z-twisted silk elements; diameters: 0.6–1.0 mm

Culture

Brussels

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

During the winter of 42–41 BCE, Cleopatra became pregnant with twins. The following year, however, Antony returned to Rome and prepared a long-awaited campaign against the Parthians. Yet Octavian failed to support the endeavor. Disappointed, Antony left Italy and sailed to Alexandria, where he renewed his relationship with Cleopatra. Meanwhile, the triumvirate disintegrated, and Octavian rose to power in Rome. Eventually Antony broke off relations with Octavian, and in 31 BCE civil war broke out again. The decisive sea battle was fought at Actium, a promontory in northern Greece. As depicted in the tapestry, the Egyptian fleet was destroyed by the Romans, and Antony fled to Egypt in Cleopatra’s boat. In 30 BCE, Octavian invaded Egypt. Rather than surrender to his enemy, Antony committed suicide. A few days later, Cleopatra followed his example. Their tragic deaths are not included in this suite.

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