F. Barocci: Aeneas' Flight from Troy (1587)
On the way out of the city, Creusa, Aeneas' wife, started out with her family, but she disappeared from sight. Aeneas went back to look for her and was met by her ghost. She encouraged him to leave Troy and found a new city with a new wife in Hesperia (Italy). Her final words are: "The great mother of the gods (Cybele) detains me in this land. Now farewell, and keep your love for the son we share." So Aeneas loses his wife and his city and sets forth carrying the past (his father) and leading by the hand the future (his son). This painting by Federico Barocci (1587, now in the Borghese Gallery in Rome), shows Aeneas and his family leaving, even as Creusa begins to fade away.
Describe brevi fabula picturam:
- quis in pictura est?
- quid faciunt?
- cur sic faciunt?
- quid dicunt?
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