Cassandra Imploring Athena for Revenge Against Ajax 1810 - 1838

Jérôme-Martin Langlois's "Cassandra Imploring Athena for Revenge Against Ajax" (1810-1838) depicts the Trojan prophetess Cassandra, who was cursed by Apollo to have her prophecies never believed, pleading for Athena's vengeance against Ajax. The scene takes place after Ajax's madness, during which he slaughtered a flock of sheep he thought were the Greek leaders, but also killed many captured Trojan women. The artwork is a lithograph, which was a relatively new printing technique in the 19th century. The composition and style of the piece are characteristic of Neoclassicism, with its focus on classical mythology and a clear, balanced structure. The drama of the scene is intensified by the contrasting light and shadow.