I’ve been fixated on all-things Ancient Egypt, so it’s no wonder how utterly OBSESSED I am with the idea of Dorothy Lamour as CLEOPATRA VII! 
This stunning illustration by Henry Clive graced the October 13th, 1946 cover of American Weekly as part of a series called “Pin-Up Girls of History,” beautifully blending Hollywood glamour with historical iconography. The original oil painting is up for auction again, and it’s estimated it’ll be sold anywhere between $10-$15K (in times like these, I wish I were rich)!
What I love about Cleopatra is that every woman can relate with her and feel empowered. Her legacy is a testament to the power of female intelligence and strength beyond physical allure. To me, Dottie and Cleopatra truly complement each other. Think about it … they were both celebrated (and oftentimes reduced) for their “exotic” beauty and navigated a male-dominated world to achieve their ambitions. Seeing Dottie illustrated as Cleopatra is incredibly empowering, especially when one considers her significant contributions to film history and the war effort. Dottie’s war bond tours come to mind as a great example of female leadership.
This is a visual representation of my two worlds colliding and I personally would’ve LOVED to see Dottie take on the role of Cleopatra on the silver screen!
Check out these two black & white photos from my collection – Dottie is seen here with artist “Pegot” who created an Egyptian-inspired sculpture in Dottie’s likeness, 1938. Looks like Mr. Clive may have been inspired by this!
Some fun for ya … If you’re into puzzles, I found a digitized version featuring the painting. Click here, then press the green “Solve” button to get started.
Comment below if you plan to bid on this or if you can only dream, like me!