The plot of this picture was taken from the “Natural History” by the ancient Roman writer and scholar Pliny the Elder. In “Natural History” Pliny, in particular, mentions that Cleopatra had innumerable treasures, and among them were the two largest pearls in the world. These incredible beauty stones the queen wore as earrings.
Once the queen quarreled with her lover, the Roman commander Mark Antony, that he could spend a huge sum of ten million sesterces for one dinner. According to Pliny, Cleopatra won this bet thanks to the fact that during the feast she took off one of the precious pearl earrings, dissolved it in a glass of wine vinegar and drank this liquid.
It is known that vinegar, which is capable of dissolving pearls in itself, does not happen, so it is believed that the cunning queen simply swallowed the pearl along with the liquid. This story, apparently, was something particularly sympathetic to the artist, because he “illustrated” it several times. Presented here “Feast of Cleopatra” – the most characteristic for the manner of Tiepolo.
The Feast of Cleopatra by Jacob Jordaens 
Meeting Antony and Cleopatra by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 
Fiesta de Cleopatra – Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 
El encuentro de Anthony y Cleopatra – Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 
Bellerophon on Pegasus by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 
Cleopatra’s Death by Guido Reni 
Triumph of Flora by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 
Calling Cincinnatus to power dictator by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo