Thetis dompelt Achilles onder in de Styx 1679

Franz Ertinger’s etching, “Thetis dompelt Achilles onder in de Styx”, depicts the Greek myth of Thetis dipping her son Achilles in the river Styx to make him invulnerable. Thetis holds Achilles by the heel as she lowers him into the water, explaining why Achilles was only vulnerable in that spot. The etching, which was created in 1679, is a fine example of the Baroque style. The composition is dynamic and dramatic, with swirling lines and strong contrasts of light and dark. The use of a classical mythological subject matter was popular during the Baroque period, and Ertinger's etching is a fine example of this trend. The artwork is currently on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.