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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Caesar in the Gallic Wars (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Caesar defeats the Troops of Pompey (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Triumph of Caesar (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Caesar embarks to join his Army (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Caesar sends a Messenger to Cleopatra (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
"This tapestry is from the Art Institute's suite of 14 hangings depicting events from the lives of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra, whose intertwined love affairs and conflicts have provided material for storytellers from Roman times to the present day. After Caesar defeated Pompey, his rival for control of the Roman Republic, Pompey fled to Egypt, pursued by Caesar. In Egypt Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII was fighting a civil war against his sister, wife, and co-regent, Cleopatra VII. Ptolemy had Pompey murdered, offending Caesar, who then involved himself in the Egyptian civil war. Caesar deposed Ptolemy and sought an alliance with Cleopatra. Depicted here [directly above] is Cleopatra receiving Caesar's messenger, the beginning of their alliance and love affair."
– curator's notes at the Art Institute of Chicago
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Cleopatra enjoys herself at Sea (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Cleopatra and Caesar riding together (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Cleopatra asked to pay Tribute to Rome (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Caesar throws himself into the Sea (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Clodius disguised as a Woman (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Discovery of the Plot to kill Caesar and Cleopatra (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Cleopatra mourns Caesar's Death (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Banquet of Cleopatra and Antony (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Justus van Egmont (designer) Battle of Actium (The Story of Caesar and Cleopatra) ca. 1680 wool and silk tapestry, woven in Brussels Art Institute of Chicago |
"During the winter of 42-41 BC, 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 BC civil war broke out again. The decisive sea battle was fought at Actium, a promontory in northern Greece. As depicted in the tapestry [directly above], the Egyptian fleet was destroyed by the Romans, and Antony fled to Egypt in Cleopatra's boat. In 30 BC, 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."
– curator's notes at the Art Institute of Chicago