The Trojans hauling the wooden horse into Troy
1545 (published 1773)
Medium
Engraving; third state of three
Dimensions
Sheet: 15 15/16 × 24 7/8 in. (40.5 × 63.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.95.289
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving captures a pivotal moment from the Trojan War, as Trojan soldiers strain to pull the massive wooden horse—secretly filled with Greek warriors—through the gates of their city. The scene, drawn from ancient myths recounted by Virgil and others, foreshadows the fall of Troy and highlights themes of deception and fate that have captivated audiences for centuries. Created in 1545 by engraver Giulio Bonasone after a design by Francesco Primaticcio, the print was later published in its third state by Carlo Losi in 1773. As a large-scale engraving measuring roughly 16 by 25 inches, the...
About the Artist
Giulio Bonasone|Francesco Primaticcio|Carlo Losi · 1500–1600
Comment on works: History; Mythology