Rome46 Cleopatra before Octavianus by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri Oil on Canvas Painted in 1640 by Barbieri, possibly in collaboration with his workshop, for cardinal Giulio Saccherri, it is a part of a small group of the artist's "historical" paintings. The scene depicts a famous episode narrated by the Greek author Plutarch, in 31 BC, after the Battle of Acrium. Octavianus - who had not yet become Emperor Augustus - obtained the total submission of Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.