Diomed and Cressida (from William Shakespeare's 'Troilus and Cressida', Act V, Scene II) 1789

Angelica Kauffmann painted this scene from Shakespeare's 'Troilus and Cressida', focusing on Cressida's infidelity. The exchange of garments is central: Diomed is seen receiving a sleeve from Cressida, a token once given by her lover, Troilus. This act of exchange and the offering of garments carry heavy symbolic weight, echoed across centuries. Consider the significance of clothing in medieval courtly love, where garments served as tangible reminders of affection, as potent as relics. Now, observe how this motif transforms; in later works, a similar exchange might signify betrayal, a discarding of old vows for new, potentially treacherous alliances. The act of infidelity shown in the painting engages our collective memory, where the sleeve, once a symbol of love, becomes charged with emotional tension. These symbols are not static; they evolve, their meanings layered with cultural and psychological resonance, constantly resurfacing in our shared consciousness.