Plate 17: Aeneas welcomed by King Euandrus in Italy; from Guillielmus Becanus's 'Serenissimi Principis Ferdinandi, Hispaniarum Infantis...'

Art Historical Context

This 1636 engraving, Plate 17 from Guillielmus Becanus’s celebratory volume honoring Ferdinand, Spanish Infante, captures a pivotal moment from Virgil’s Aeneid. It shows the Trojan hero Aeneas being welcomed by King Evander upon his arrival in Italy, a scene rich with themes of hospitality, destiny, and the founding of Rome. Created by engravers Johannes Meursius and Cornelis Galle I, the print belongs to a tradition of festival books that blended classical mythology with contemporary political pageantry. As an engraving on paper, the work exemplifies the medium’s power in the seventeenth century to circulate intricate images widely. Fine lines and careful shading allow for detailed renderings of figures, boats, and architectural elements, reflecting the ornamental and festive character noted in its classification. The trimmed sheet, measuring roughly 14¾ by 10⅞ inches, preserves a lively composition featuring kings, attendants, and youthful figures that would have resonated with viewers familiar with both ancient epics and Habsburg court spectacles. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece offers modern audiences a window into how Baroque artists merged literary heritage with visual storytelling to glorify rulers.