The Discovery of Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes c. 1710

Sir James Thornhill made this pen and wash drawing depicting ‘The Discovery of Achilles among the Daughters of Lycomedes’ some time in the early 18th century. In the story, Achilles’ mother disguised him as a woman to prevent him from being forced to fight in the Trojan War. Ulysses devised a scheme to reveal Achilles by offering trinkets and weapons to the women. Achilles is shown here betraying himself by reaching for a sword. This drawing would have been made in England. It reveals a lot about how the English viewed gender roles at this time. The drawing stereotypes women as interested in trinkets and unconcerned with matters of war, and contrasts this with an idea of natural masculine heroism. By studying the prints and drawings that were popular at the time, as well as conduct books and other historical sources, we can discover much about the social assumptions that informed this image. Art is always made in a specific time and place; it isn’t just a reflection of timeless truths.