The Death of Priam, ca. 1760

Dimensions: 40.4 x 132.3 cm

Physical Description: Oil on canvas

Inventory Number: 1945

Acquisition: On permanent loan from Landeswohlfahrtsverband Hessen

Status: Not on display

Texts

About the Work

The elongated horizontal format suggests that both paintings originally decorated for the spaces above doors. Their subjects are taken from the Aeneid, which was written by the Roman poet Virgil as a “sequel” to Homer’s Iliad. Aeneas originally came from Troy. When the fate of that city was already sealed, he witnessed the murder of the aged king Priam. Fearing for the life of his own father, he saved him from the burning city. After a tortuous journey he was given a friendly welcome by King Latinus in Italy, where he became the progenitor of the Romans.

Audio

Basic information

01:32
Focus on cultural history

05:14

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: The Death of Priam

Painter

Johann Andreas Herrlein attributed

Period Produced

18th century

School

Baroque

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Oil on canvas

Material

canvas

Technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Unbezeichnet

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: On permanent loan from Landeswohlfahrtsverband Hessen

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

Main Motif

Persons Shown

Associated Persons and Institutions

Illustrated Passage

Vergil: Aeneis, Buch 2, 506-566

Iconclass

Primary

94H232 Priam, Hecuba and their daughters take refuge at the altar of Jupiter in the courtyard of the palace
94H2322 Priam is killed by Neoptolemus
94H2 the fall of Troy; Troy burning
45B the soldier; the soldier's life