The Royal Family of Troy Mourning the Death of Hector 1734 - 1802

Gaetano Gandolfi sketched "The Royal Family of Troy Mourning the Death of Hector" in the 18th century, at a time when Europe was rediscovering classical antiquity. Gandolfi evokes a scene of profound grief, drawing us into the intimate space of the Trojan royal family. The death of Hector, a heroic figure, is not just a personal tragedy but a cultural catastrophe, signaling the fall of Troy itself. Note how the women, embodying vulnerability, are central to the composition, their gestures and expressions dictating our emotional response. The child tugging at Andromache’s dress introduces a note of intergenerational sorrow, a stark reminder of the war’s long shadow. Gandolfi seems to suggest that while men wage war, women and children are left to bear its emotional and social consequences. Through this deeply humanistic portrayal of loss, Gandolfi compels us to consider the universal costs of conflict and the gendered dimensions of grief.