Thetis overhandigt Achilles zijn nieuwe wapenrusting 1710

This engraving, made by Bernard Picart sometime between 1696 and 1733, depicts Thetis giving Achilles his new armor. The scene is from Homer's "Iliad," a foundational text of Western literature, and illustrates a key moment in the Trojan War, a conflict that symbolizes the heroic age. But consider the social context in which Picart made this image, France during the reign of Louis XIV. Known as the Sun King, Louis used classical imagery to reinforce his authority. His palace at Versailles was filled with paintings and sculptures depicting mythological scenes. These artworks served as allegories of his own power and divine right to rule. Picart's engraving, therefore, participates in this visual culture, using classical themes to uphold existing social hierarchies. Art historians can examine such images alongside court records, fashion trends, and theater productions to understand better the complex interplay between art, power, and society in the early modern period.