This second version of "The Death of Cleopatra" by Giampietrino offers a fascinating variation on his popular tragic theme, showcasing the artist’s ability to adapt a core composition for different narrative and decorative contexts. In this interpretation, Cleopatra is shown positioned before a lattice window, a device that provides a more structured and domestic setting compared to the dark void of the earlier version. She wears a distinctive green headdress and her torso is partially draped, yet the central drama of the asp biting her breast remains the focal point. The influence of Leonardo da Vinci is paramount in the soft modeling of her face and the enigmatic expression that balances physical pain with a sense of divine detachment.

The use of "sfumato" is masterfully applied to the transitions of light across the skin, giving Cleopatra a luminous, almost porcelain-like quality. The lighting is more complex here, filtering through the window to create varied shadows and highlights on her form. The asp is rendered with a dark, muscular realism that emphasizes the "memento mori" aspect of the scene—a reminder of the inevitability of death. Giampietrino’s focus on the "ideal woman" in a state of tragic grace reflects the High Renaissance synthesis of the human and the divine. The anatomical precision of her hands and the subtle tension in her pose reflect the scientific rigor maintained in the Vinci workshop.

Technically, the painting is characterized by a high degree of finish and a harmonious color palette dominated by greens, golds, and warm flesh tones. During the 1530s, Giampietrino was at the height of his career in Milan, producing numerous works for a sophisticated clientele that desired images blending sacred or mythological narratives with peak aesthetic beauty. This "Cleopatra" reflects the era's fascination with the "noble death" and the exploration of psychological interiority. It stands as a testament to Giampietrino’s status as the primary popularizer of the Leonardesque style, an artist who could capture the ephemeral qualities of human thought and emotion through a visual language of peak elegance and technical perfection. Now part of several major collections, this version continues to intrigue viewers for its combination of physical beauty and morbid, tragic subject matter.