The Trojans hauling the wooden horse into Troy

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Trojans Hauling the Wooden Horse into Troy*, a dramatic 1545 engraving by Italian artists Giulio Bonasone and Francesco Primaticcio. first-state impression—measuring an impressive 15 1516 × 24 7/8 inches—captures the fateful moment from Virgil's *Aeneid*, when unsuspecting Trojans drag the Greek gift horse through their city gates, sealing their doom. Bonasone, a master engraver, likely translated Primaticcio's Mannerist design into intricate lines, blending dynamic figures with architectural grandeur in the style of the Fontainebleau School. Engravings like this were revolutionary in the Renaissance, enabling widespread dissemination of classical myths through precise intaglio printing on copper plates. The "first state of three" means this is the purest version, before later editions added lettering or alterations, preserving the artists' original vision. Primaticcio's elegant, elongated forms evoke the sophisticated Mannerism popular in mid-16th-century Italy and France, while Bonasone's technique yields rich tonal contrasts and bustling energy among men, horses, and the colossal equine form. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this print not only revives an ancient tale of hubris and trickery but also highlights the collaborative artistry that bridged painting and printmaking, making epic stories accessible to collectors across Europe. A timeless warning wrapped in visual splendor!

About the Artist

Giulio Bonasone|Francesco Primaticcio · 1500–1600

Comment on works: History; Mythology