Ajax in the Grave 1785 - 1804

"Ajax in the Grave" (1785-1804) is a pen and brown ink drawing on paper by Jacob Wilhelm Mechau (1745-1808). This piece, currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a scene from Homer's epic poem, "The Iliad". A group of men are carrying Ajax's body, now wrapped in cloth, while a man on horseback leads the procession. This dynamic composition portrays a moment of somber mourning, highlighting the tragic fate of the Greek hero Ajax. The artwork is a masterful example of Mechau's skill in depicting historical and literary subjects with dramatic realism.