Parting of Hector and Andromache

Smibert employs chiaroscuro to heighten the drama, allowing a strong light source to illuminate the central figures and cast deep shadows behind them. The contrast of a red cloak on the male figure and a blue‑gold robe on the female creates visual focus, while the subdued background figures add depth without distracting from the tender encounter.

Created shortly after Smibert’s arrival in the American colonies, the painting reflects his European academic training applied to a classical subject. It entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through acquisition in the early twentieth century, where it remains on display as an example of early colonial art with a mythological theme.