Dido op de brandstapel 1783 - 1851

"Dido op de brandstapel" (Dido on the funeral pyre) is an 18th century engraving by Willem van Senus, depicting the death of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, as she is consumed by the flames of her own pyre. Dido, a powerful queen, is shown in a dramatic pose, her figure reclining on a pile of logs with an angel-like figure above her. The scene is set in an oval frame, which creates a sense of intimacy and drama. The engraving, housed at the Rijksmuseum, illustrates a classic tale from Virgil's Aeneid, highlighting the tragic love story of Dido and Aeneas, and demonstrates the artist's mastery of detail and expression.