Aeneas and his army fighting the harpies (Arpijae celebri lapsu de montibus adsunt)
1663
Imagine trying to enjoy a peaceful feast only to have winged monsters swoop down to steal your lunch and ruin the party. This dramatic engraving by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli depicts a chaotic scene from Virgil's Aeneid where the hero Aeneas and his troops are ambushed by Harpies on the Strophades islands. You can see the soldiers grappling with these bird-women creatures, knocking over jugs and shields in a desperate struggle to protect their food. It's a perfect example of Baroque energy, filled with twisting muscles and dynamic movement, illustrating the moment the monsters cursed the Trojans to suffer hunger before founding Rome.
- Technique
- Engraving
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