American Art Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes Made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central Americac. 1758-64 Henry Benbridge, American, 1743 - 1812 Oil on canvas * Gallery 105, American Art, first floor (Sherrerd Gallery) 1990-88-1 Purchased with the J. Stogdell Stokes Fund, the Edith H. Bell Fund, and the Katharine Levin Farrell Fund, 1990 |
LabelHenry Benbridge's scene, which derives from the Greek epic tradition on the Trojan War, is one of the most baroque compositions painted in the Delaware Valley during the eighteenth century. The painting is a copy, in reverse, of a tapestry design by Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640). In the painting, Achilles has been disguised as a woman and hidden among the daughters of King Lycomedes at the behest of his mother, who knows that he is fated to die if he goes to Troy. Achilles betrays himself by showing too much interest in a helmet and becomes one of Greece's great warriors.* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit. |
