Lost Cleopatra sculpture found 100 years later being used as horse gravestone
A lost 19th-century sculpture by Edmonia Lewis, titled 'The Death of Cleopatra,' was rediscovered after being used as a horse gravestone for decades. The piece is now recognized for its artistic significance and the resilience of its creator, who faced racial and gender discrimination.
Why it matters
The rediscovery highlights the importance of preserving art history and sheds light on the overlooked contributions of minority artists in the 19th century.
Many of history's most beloved works still remain lost to time. From books to sculptures and even paintings, all works of art that were adored in their day are now either destroyed or impossible to find. For instance, Sophocles was known to have written over 120 plays; only 7 are known to survive to this day. Similarly, Frida Kahlo's 1940 painting, The Wounded Table, was last exhibited in 1955 and has not been seen since. Another such lost work of art was a sculpture called The Death of Cleopatra.In a video going viral on TikTok, user Symantha Onyechi introduced viewers to the sculpture, sharing its story from being sculpted to getting lost and then finally finding a place in the museum. She revealed that the sculpture was created by a woman named Edmonia Lewis. As Onyechi described, the sculpture shows Cleopatra "moments after her suicide."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in