Artwork

Aeneas Offering Presents to King Latinus and Asking Him for the Hand of His Daughter

Aeneas Offering Presents to King Latinus and Asking Him for the Hand of His Daughter is an unspecified painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jean Baptiste Regnault. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jean-Baptiste Regnault’s 1790 canvas presents a moment from Roman legend in which the Trojan hero Aeneas approaches the court of King Latinus. The composition captures a formal audience within an expansive interior, emphasizing the diplomatic exchange that underpins the founding myth of Rome.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the scene, Aeneus extends gifts to Latinus while petitioning for the hand of the king’s daughter, a narrative that symbolizes alliance and destiny. The gesture reflects the ancient theme of marriage as a political contract, linking the Trojan lineage to the future of the Latin people.

Technique & Style

Regnault employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated figures against shadowed surroundings to model forms and heighten tension. The painter’s careful rendering of drapery and architectural detail conveys a sense of depth, while the restrained palette reinforces the solemn atmosphere of the diplomatic encounter.

History & Provenance

Completed in the late eighteenth century, the work entered the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader commitment to representing French academic painting and the visual articulation of classical mythology.