Illustration LXVI c. 16th century

Curator: This is Illustration LXVI, by an anonymous artist. Look at how the figures are arranged! Editor: The red splatter makes me think of blood, and the scene looks fraught with tension. What story is being told? Curator: The print depicts a sacrifice, which was a common theme in classical literature and life, often used to appease gods or ensure fortune. Editor: I see Dido and Anna, so we’re looking at Virgil’s *Aeneid*. But the sacrifice itself… it’s tied to power, who holds it, and who suffers under its weight. Curator: Yes, and the image freezes a key moment laden with symbolic weight; a pivot point that resonates across centuries. Editor: A potent reminder that some stories, especially about power and sacrifice, just keep being retold. Curator: Exactly. These echoes in imagery are important to consider when we look at the artwork.