Achilles and Priam, in conversation outside of Troy
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 3/8 × 9 1/16 in. (31.4 × 23 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924
Accession Number
24.63.897
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking print captures a pivotal moment from Homer’s Iliad, as the Trojan king Priam humbly pleads with the Greek hero Achilles for the return of his son Hector’s body. Created around 1644–66, the work reflects the enduring fascination with classical mythology in 17th-century Europe, where such scenes symbolized themes of mercy, grief, and reconciliation. The etching and engraving technique, masterfully executed by Lucas Vorsterman II and Frans van den Wyngaerde after a design by Peter Paul Rubens, allowed this dramatic composition to reach a broad audience beyond the original painting. Rubens, a leading figure of the Baroque period, was renowned for his dynamic figures and emotional intensity, qualities beautifully preserved in the print’s rich contrasts and expressive gestures. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this piece exemplifies how reproductive prints served as vital tools for sharing artistic and literary narratives across Europe during the early modern era.
About the Artist
Lucas Vorsterman II|Frans van den Wyngaerde|Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish|Italian) · 1624 |1503 –1666 |1572
Flemish, Antwerp 1624–after 1666 Antwerp|Italian, Monticelli 1503–1572 Florence