King Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Corpse of Hector 1794 - 1798

Nicolai Abildgaard's "King Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Corpse of Hector" (1794-1798) depicts the poignant moment from Homer's Iliad when the aged King Priam of Troy kneels before the Greek hero Achilles, begging for the return of his slain son Hector's body. The scene is rendered in a neoclassical style, characterized by its emphasis on idealized forms and a sense of restrained emotion. Abildgaard's masterful use of light and shadow creates a dramatic contrast between the figures, highlighting the pathos of the moment. The artwork, now housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, exemplifies the enduring influence of classical art on 18th-century European painting.