Achilles and Priam, in conversation outside of Troy (ca. 1644–66, Met-Objekt 1223)
Original title: Achilles and Priam, in conversation outside of Troy
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike related prints that isolate the moment of the plea, this etching and engraving by Lucas Vorsterman II presents the encounter between Achilles and the Trojan king Priam before the city gates as a dialogue between two armed men. It was made between about 1644 and 1666.
Description
Two main figures dominate the image: on the left, Achilles, whose helmet and elaborately decorated armor catch the eye; on the right, Priam, also wearing a helmet with a plume, touching or embracing his counterpart. Both appear absorbed in serious conversation. Behind them stand other figures in military order, a hint of the time after the Trojan War. The black and white of the sheet thrives on precise, detailed linework.
Context
The engraver Lucas Vorsterman II, a 17th-century Fleming, was known for his reproductive engravings. As was customary at the time, this motif probably goes back to a painting or drawing by another artist. Priam's plea to Achilles for the body of his son Hector, a subject from the Iliad, was a favorite theme in the Baroque.
Impact
A calm yet noticeably tense mood hangs over the sheet, brought about by the serious expressions and the closeness of the two figures. The precise linework and clear contrasts give the image high fidelity to detail and an almost monumental presence.
Technique
Etching and engraving were used here, a method capable of reproducing the finest details exactly. Such techniques often served reproductive printmaking in the 17th century, making paintings accessible to a wider public.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)