Taking a closer look at one of the most treasured works in the NGV Collection, Giambattista Tiepolo’s The Banquet of Cleopatra, NGV senior curator Dr Ted Gott introduces the fascinating life of the ancient Egyptian Queen and separates truth from myth in this exclusive Members-only talk.
What do we really know about the tale of the Roman consul Mark Antony and his relationship with Cleopatra? From Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s famous depiction in the 1963 epic film Cleopatra, to the recent 2023 docuseries Queen Cleopatra, this story continues to fascinate us. What can we learn from Tiepolo’s depiction of the tale?
Speaker
Dr Ted Gott is Senior Curator of International Art at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). He has curated and co-curated more than 25 exhibitions, including Salvador Dalí: Liquid Desire, Napoleon: Revolution to Empire, and most recently co-curated QUEER: Stories from the NGV Collection and Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi. He has published widely on Australian, British and French art, and in 2013 co-authored a cultural history of the gorilla in nineteenth and twentieth century art, literature, scientific discourse and cinema (Gorilla, Reaktion Press, London).
This program is part of a new series of talks just for NGV Members. Book into one, or purchase a series ticket to attend all three and receive a 10% discount.
Cleopatra and the Case of the Missing Pearl
Sat 22 Feb, 12-1PM
Pre-Raphaelites and their Prey – Henrietta Rae
Sat 22 Mar, 12-1PM
Stories from Conservation – Discovering a Long-Lost Frederick McCubbin
Sat 3 May, 12-1PM
Auslan interpretation available on request. Please email your request to programs@ngv.vic.gov.au, allowing a minimum of one week’s notice.