The Death of Hector on the Ramparts of Troy (recto) / Tancred and Erminia (verso)

Art Historical Context

This double-sided print by Pierre Lelu captures two dramatic episodes from epic literature. On the recto, *The Death of Hector on the Ramparts of Troy* depicts the climactic moment from Homer’s *Iliad*, while the verso presents *Tancred and Erminia*, drawn from Torquato Tasso’s 16th-century poem *Jerusalem Delivered*. Created between 1726 and 1750, the work reflects the period’s enduring fascination with classical and Renaissance literary themes, which remained popular subjects for French artists seeking to evoke heroism, tragedy, and chivalric romance. Lelu employed aquatint combined with etching, printed in gray-brown on one side and sepia on the other, to achieve rich tonal effects reminiscent of wash drawings. This relatively new technique allowed for subtle gradations of light and shadow, lending atmospheric depth to the battle scenes and emotional intensity to the figures. The sheet’s modest size—roughly 10 by 12 inches—suggests it was intended for intimate viewing, perhaps within a collector’s album or portfolio. Housed in the National Gallery of Art through the Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund, the print exemplifies 18th-century printmaking’s role in disseminating grand narratives to wider audiences. Its dual imagery invites viewers to consider connections between ancient Greek and early modern European storytelling traditions.