• Bertel Thorvaldsen

  1770-1844

Achilles Holding the Dead Penthesilea

• Production Date

  No earlier than 1837

• Type of Work / Object

  Sculpture > Relief > Pedestal Relief

• Location

  • Denmark > Copenhagen > Thorvaldsens Museum > Main Floor > Room 5

• Inventory Number

  A495

• Catalogue Number

  A495

• Catalogue Level / Collection

  Thorvaldsen's Art > Thorvaldsen's Sculptures (A)

Explanation

• Penthesilea was the queen of the female warriors, the Amazons. During the Trojan War there is an encounter between Achilles and Penthesilea. In the heat of battle, he falls in love with her, but it is too late: his spear has already pierced her heart.

Motif / Theme

• Human > Man > Achilles
• Human > Woman > Penthesilea
• General Subject > Homer
• Theme > Emotion > Infatuation
• Theme > Emotion > Grief
• Theme > Condition > Death

Additional Catalogue Information