The Daughters of Pandarus n.d.

John Flaxman created this drawing, "The Daughters of Pandarus," using pen and gray ink with gray wash. It depicts two women embracing, one carrying two children on her back, all seemingly floating on clouds. The embrace, a timeless symbol of love and protection, carries echoes of antiquity. It calls to mind images of the Madonna sheltering the Christ Child, a motif deeply rooted in religious art, offering solace and security. Note how, even in antiquity, the act of carrying another on one's back appears in the myth of Aeneas fleeing Troy, bearing his father, Anchises, on his shoulders, an image of filial duty and cultural preservation. These gestures speak to our collective memory, resonating on a subconscious level. The vulnerability of the children and the protective stance of the women evoke a primal response, tapping into our innate sense of empathy and the desire for safety. These symbols are constantly evolving, resurfacing in new contexts, yet still tethered to their origins.