A dramatic Neoclassical history painting depicting the Roman officer Proculeius intervening as Cleopatra attempts to take her own life.

This painting depicts a dramatic moment from the final days of Cleopatra VII, the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt. Following the defeat of Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium, the Roman general Octavian sent his officer, Gaius Proculeius, to capture the queen. The scene captures the precise instant when Proculeius intervenes to stop Cleopatra from taking her own life with a dagger.

Alberti employs the visual language of Neoclassicism to organise the composition. The figures are arranged with theatrical clarity, focusing on the physical struggle between the Roman soldier and the queen. Cleopatra is positioned at the centre, her expression one of shock and defiance, while her attendants react with gestures of distress. The lighting is controlled, casting deep shadows across the chamber to heighten the tension of the encounter. In the background, a secondary figure enters through a window, adding a sense of urgency to the narrative.

The artist uses a palette of muted earth tones, punctuated by the deep red of Proculeius's cloak and the pale blue of Cleopatra's garments. This colour choice directs the viewer's eye to the central conflict. The architectural elements, including the column and the draped fabric, provide a structured environment that reflects the period's interest in classical antiquity. Alberti's work adheres to the conventions of history painting, where the focus remains on the moral and emotional weight of the historical event. The composition balances the stillness of the background figures with the kinetic energy of the foreground struggle, creating a narrative that is both immediate and staged. This piece offers a clear example of how early nineteenth-century artists interpreted classical subjects through a lens of dramatic realism.