Aeneas vlucht met zijn familie uit Troje 1873

Wilhelmus Petrus van Geldorp made this drawing of Aeneas and his family fleeing Troy in the 19th century. The story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero who escapes the burning city to found Rome, was incredibly popular throughout European history. In this image, we see Aeneas carrying his elderly father on his back, his son holding onto his hand, and other family members following close behind. Van Geldorp created this drawing during a time of great political and social change in the Netherlands. The country was undergoing industrialization and modernization, and there was a growing sense of national pride and interest in its own history and cultural identity. Classical imagery was often used to legitimize contemporary power structures. By depicting a hero from classical mythology, Van Geldorp tapped into a long tradition of using art to promote certain values and ideals, and, as historians, we must always consider what social function the artwork was meant to serve. Scholarly articles, historical documents, and cultural studies can all help to understand the rich meaning of art.