Oil painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo titled, The Banquet of Cleopatra, depicts one of the most famous incidents of the era when the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra wagered that her feast would be more lavish than that ever laid by the Roman consul Mark Antony. Created in 1743-44, the painting renders timeless the dramatic moment when Cleopatra wins the wager by dissolving one of her priceless pearl earrings in a glass of vinegar and drinks it up. Vernon Lewis Gallery/Stocktrek Images