The Deification of Aeneas by Nymphs and Cupids

The hero of Virgil’s epic the Aeneid, Aeneas is associated with the foundation of Roman culture following the fall of Troy and an arduous journey to his destined homeland in Italy. In this print, Aeneas is prepared for deification; his armor has been removed, and nymphs and cupids perform a ritual cleansing of his body. Van den Dyck, an artist who emerged from the orbit of Peter Paul Rubens, realized this print during one of his many years in Italy. After settling first in Venice, the artist eventually became a court painter to Duke Carlo Gonzaga II in Mantua.