Aeneas vlucht uit het brandende Troje 1702 - 1767

Jacob Folkema etched “Aeneas fleeing burning Troy,” now at the Rijksmuseum. At its center stands Aeneas, a Trojan hero, depicted with his family amidst the chaos of Troy's fall. Observe the figure of Aeneas, bearing his father Anchises on his shoulders. This pose is a potent symbol of piety and filial duty, resonating deeply with Roman virtues. It evokes the classical ideal of the strong hero committed to his family. This motif echoes across time, appearing in numerous Renaissance paintings, each reiterating the weight of familial obligation and the burden of history. The act of carrying one's father is not merely physical but deeply psychological, representing the hero’s connection to the past. Consider how this symbolism surfaces in later works, like medieval tapestries or even contemporary film. The hero carries on his shoulders the weight of tradition, memory, and the subconscious desires of generations past. The motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts, from the classical world to modern interpretations of heroism and duty.