Artwork
Hector Taking Leave of His Family
Hector Taking Leave of His Family is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist Lucy C. Huntington. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
This isn’t a painting—it’s embroidered silk with watercolor shadows.
Hector in a fancy silk coat stands by a door, holding his helmet. His wife and baby reach for him. The room glows with gold thread and sequins. You can almost hear the quiet before he leaves.
This isn’t a painting—it’s embroidered silk with watercolor shadows. A rare mix of sewing and paint, made in 1810. The artist used tiny stitches to show light on fabric.
Look up Lucy C. Huntington to see more of her work.
Overview
"Hector Taking Leave of His Family" is an intricate textile artwork created by Lucy C. Huntington in 1810. This piece uniquely combines silk embroidery with watercolor to depict a poignant mythological scene. It portrays the Trojan hero Hector's emotional farewell to his wife and infant son, capturing a moment of domestic intimacy before his departure for battle. The work showcases a distinctive blend of fine needlework and painting techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork illustrates a dramatic episode from the Trojan War, focusing on the Trojan prince Hector's final moments with his family. He is shown preparing to leave, helmet in hand, while his wife Andromache and their child reach out to him. This scene emphasizes the conflict between personal affection and public duty, a common theme in classical literature, rendered here with an intimate, domestic focus.
Technique & Style
This piece stands out for its unusual combination of media: silk embroidered with silk and metallic threads, augmented by sequins and watercolor. Huntington employed meticulous stitching to render textures and capture the play of light on fabrics, such as Hector's elaborate coat. Watercolor is subtly applied, likely to enhance shadows and depth, creating a nuanced visual experience that transcends traditional textile art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucy Huntington stitched scenes with silk and sequins in the early 1800s. She embroidered scenes on fabric, like the silk-thread “Hector Taking Leave of His Family” from 1810, blending thread, paint, and sparkle. The…
