The Siege of Troy

attributed to Domenico Morone (Verona c. 1442 – Verona 1518). Oil painting on panel, The Siege of Troy, attributed to Domenico Morone (Verona c. 1442 – Verona 1518), circa 1495. A panel from a cassone (dowry chest) or a spalliera of the Trojan Horse, left and numerous figures. The town of Troy is seen at the left, with the Trojan horse painted in gold; a cavalry fight takes place in front of open country in the centre and at the right are the tents of the besieging Greek army, with Achilles dragging the body of Hector behind his horse. Episodes from the Aeneid and the Iliad have been conflated: to the left, in an episode not often treated by artists, (Aeneid 2:237 ff.) the great wooden horse on wheels is shown being pushed into the city, hiding the Greek soldiers; to the right Achilles is shown dragging the body of Hector behind him (Iliad 22:395-515). Achilles was spurred into battle by the death of his friend, Patroclus, who had been killed by Hector. Wearing armour forged by Hephaestus, he slew Hector, and, in the text, is described tying the body by the heels to his chariot and dragging it off behind Greek lines. Here the body is shown pulled by a horse rather than chariot, and the body is not naked, but still wears its armour. In the centre of the picture scenes of combat, seemingly drawn from no particular episode, are shown. Tatton Park, Cheshire (Accredited Museum)