In this painting Alma-Tadema illustrates Shakespeare's vision of Antony's first encounter with Cleopatra. Shakespeare portrayed Cleopatra as a stunningly beautiful woman. A new British Museum exhibit of Cleopatra's surviving images reveals that she was rather plain and short. Nevertheless, her story continues to captivate us. Antony had been a general to Caesar, who was murdered partially for his greedy ambition in Rome and in part because of his affair with Cleopatra which produced a son. Two years after the murder of Caesar, Antony came to see the queen. They met in the Asiatic Sea among mighty ships and barges. Antony sent for Cleopatra but she refused, insisting that he come to her. Antony was captivated by her charm and returned to Alexandria with her. Antony ignored his duties in Rome to spend time with Cleopatra and eventually renounced his wife and child in Rome. This was a dangerous decision, since Antony's wife was the sister of Octavian, the ruler of Rome. Alma-Tadema presents Cleopatra in all of her glory. In the midst of her luxurious barge lined with roses, she waits for one of Rome's most powerful men. Antony, so taken with Cleopatra, rises and strains to have a better view of the queen. Antony is also framed by Cleopatra's barge, but he is set against a shimmering sea and Rome's impressing naval army. By framing Antony and Cleopatra in such contrasting backgrounds, Alma-Tadema emphasizes the two different worlds that separate them. Alma-Tadema also includes Rome's fantastic ships in the background. On the side of the boat he added hieroglyphics translating "Mistress of Two-Lands, Cleo" (Hawksley 219).