Achilles treurt om de dood van Patroclus 1710

This etching, created in 1710 by Dutch artist Bernard Picart (1673-1733), depicts the scene of Achilles mourning the death of Patroclus. It portrays a moment of intense grief, as Achilles, the legendary Greek hero, clutches his head in anguish. The image is filled with drama, as the figures of Achilles and his mother Thetis are prominently placed, while other figures, such as those of mourners, are depicted in the background. The etching, now held in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to Picart's skill in capturing human emotion through the art of engraving. The scene is based on the epic poem, the Iliad, and the artwork is an example of the Dutch Baroque style, characterized by dramatic composition and the use of light and shadow to heighten the emotional impact.