Artwork
Aeneas before Dido, and Venus Supplicating Jupiter (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration)
Aeneas before Dido, and Venus Supplicating Jupiter (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist James Thornhill. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting is a sketch for a decorative work, created by James Thornhill in 1720. It is a mythological scene, divided into two parts, and is now held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a scene from ancient mythology, featuring multiple figures, some airborne, and architectural elements in the background. The upper section shows a group in the sky, while the lower section shows a group on the ground, possibly representing Aeneas before Dido and Venus supplicating Jupiter.
Technique & Style
The color palette is subdued, with dominant shades of brown, gray, and beige. The composition is divided into two distinct sections, suggesting a design for a specific architectural space, such as a wall and ceiling decoration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir James Thornhill was an English painter of historical subjects working in the Italian baroque tradition.
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