Funeral Procession of the Young Pallas, Aeneid Book XI 1762

Julien de Parme made this drawing, Funeral Procession of the Young Pallas, based on the Aeneid, in 18th century France. The Aeneid, Virgil's epic poem, was a standard text in the curricula of European schools. It was used to communicate social and political ideals as well as artistic ones. In this drawing we see a very Neoclassical treatment of the story. Neoclassicism was very popular during this time and was a visual language of order, reason, and virtue. This aesthetic was promoted by institutions like the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. In France, Neoclassicism was closely associated with the monarchy and later the French Revolution. To better understand this drawing, scholars might turn to sources like the records of the French Royal Academy or political pamphlets from the period. Through careful research, we come to understand how this image was designed to comment on the social structures of its own time.