Artwork
Aeneas trägt seinen Vater Anchises aus dem brennendem Troja
Aeneas trägt seinen Vater Anchises aus dem brennendem Troja is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pieter Schoubroeck. It dates from 1606 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1606, this oil painting by Dutch‑German artist Pieter Schoubroeck portrays the legendary escape of Aeneas from the conflagrated city of Troy.
Created in 1606, this oil painting by Dutch‑German artist Pieter Schoubroeck portrays the legendary escape of Aeneas from the conflagrated city of Troy. The composition captures a frantic exodus, with figures fleeing on foot and horseback amid a skyline ablaze. Aeneas, central to the scene, bears his aged father Anchises, embodying the ancient motif of filial duty in the face of disaster. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative derives from Virgil’s Aeneid, where Aeneas leads a remnant of Troy’s survivors to safety after the city’s destruction. By emphasizing the act of carrying his father, the painting underscores themes of piety, sacrifice, and the continuity of lineage amid catastrophe. The chaotic backdrop of burning structures and fleeing crowds reinforces the urgency and loss inherent in the mythic flight.
Technique & Style
Schoubroeck employs a dramatic chiaroscuro, contrasting the bright, flickering flames with deep shadows that envelope the fleeing figures. The palette leans toward earthy tones punctuated by the orange‑red of fire, while the composition uses diagonal lines—such as the bridge and the line of retreat—to heighten the sense of movement. Fine brushwork delineates individual faces and armor, lending immediacy to the turmoil.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in the early 20th century, though its earlier ownership records are sparse. It has remained in the museum’s European paintings department, where it is displayed alongside other Baroque works that explore mythological subjects. Its attribution to Schoubroeck has been consistently accepted by scholars since its first cataloguing.
Artist & collection
