Aeneas fleeing Troy, with a group of six figures leaving the city at left, Aeneas carrying his father Anchises on his back, followed by his wife Creusa and his son Ascanius, two servants at far left
Original title: Aeneas fleeing Troy, with a group of six figures leaving the city at left, Aeneas carrying his father Anchises on his back, followed by his wife Creusa and his son Ascanius, two servants at far left
kurzbeschreibung
Aeneas carries old Anchises on his shoulders out of burning Troy. Anton Joseph von Prenner's 1728 etching captures this flight: behind Aeneas walk Creusa and young Ascanius, while two servants stand at the left edge. The print belongs to a series depicting the Trojan War, drawn from Virgil's epic.
Description
Six figures move with hurried steps across the image. Aeneas, the central figure, bears his father on his back; Creusa and Ascanius follow close behind. At the far left, two servants appear. Behind the figures, boats and another fleeing person are visible before ancient temple architecture. The clothing of those involved emphasizes the urgency of the action. Hatching and lines create highlights that stress the dramatic event.
Context
This etching was made in 1728, during a phase of intense engagement with ancient myths. The Austrian Prenner was known for his precise renderings of historical and mythological subjects. The source was the flight from Troy as told in Virgil's Aeneid. The Baroque style relies on animated figures and strong contrasts.
Impact
The arrangement of the figures and the interplay of light and shadow evoke a sense of departure and haste. The viewer follows the rescue of the family with immediate sympathy. The Baroque expression heightens the emotional impact of the scene.
Technique
For this etching, the drawing was incised into a metal plate. Fine lines and shading yield a detailed reproduction with nuanced light and shadow. The monochrome palette is characteristic of printmaking and brings out the graphic qualities of the image.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)