Hector's Farewell to Andromache and Astyanax
1676–1741/46
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, highlighted with white, on brown washed paper
Dimensions
13 7/16 x 8in. (34.1 x 20.3cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Eric M. Wunsch, 1970
Accession Number
1970.244.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the grand tradition of classical mythology, Sebastiano Galeotti *Hector's Farewell Andromache and Astax* captures a poignant moment from Homer's *Iliad*. The Trojan hero Hector bids a tender yet foreboding goodbye to his wiferomache and their infant son Astyanax heading to battle against the Greeks. Created by the Venetian artist Galeotti (1676–1741/46), active in the late Baroque era, this drawing reflects the era's fascination with emotional depth and heroic drama, drawing from ancient epics to evoke timeless human pathos. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and gray wash, heightene...