Andromache Taking Leave of Hector
ca. 1634
Medium
pen and brown ink, with grey wash and opaque watercolour; outlines indented for transfer; framing line in brown ink
Dimensions
50; 56
About this artwork
pen and brown ink, with grey wash and opaque watercolour; outlines indented for transfer; framing line in brown ink
Art Historical Context
Behold *Andromache Taking Leave of Hector*, poignant miniature drawing by Dutch artist Adriaen Pietz van de Venne, created around 1634. This touching scene draws from Homer's *Iliad*, capturing the heartrending moment when Hector's wife, Andromache, bids farewell before his fateful battle with Achilles. Van de V, a versatile Golden Age draftsman known for his intricate history subjects and moralistic vignettes, infuses the work with emotional depth, reflecting the era's fascination with classical antiquity amid the Dutch Republic's cultural flourishing. Crafted on a tiny scale— just 50mm high...