The Trojans Defend Their City; They Kill Androgeos (Aeneid, Book II)
ca. 1530–35
Medium
Painted enamel on copper, partly gilt
Dimensions
7 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. (18.4 x 19.7 cm)
Classification
Enamels
Culture
French, Limoges
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1925
Accession Number
25.39.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the heart of the Trojan War, as depicted in Virgil's *Aeneid* Book II, the Master of the Aeneid captures a pivotal moment of defiance: *The Trojans Defend Their City; They Kill Androgeos*. Created around 1530–35 in Limoges, France, this small-scale masterpiece (7¼ × 7¾ in.) is a painted enamel on copper, partly gilt, blending vibrant colors with shimmering gold accents. The anonymous Master, named for his specialization in Virgilian scenes, produced a series of such panels, evoking the chaos of battle with dynamic figures of men, horses, flames engulfing the city, and clashing warriors. Th...