Henry Fuseli
Achilles crying out at the trench, confusing the Trojan Army


Artwork Detail
Patroclus borrows the protective armour of Achilles and wears it into battle against the Trojans, only to be slain by Hector. Intent on revenge Achilles confronts the Trojans draped in the goddess Minerva’s aegis, instead of his armour. Standing at the edge of the trench beyond the wall of Troy, he shouts, his cries echoed by Minerva, who can be seen hovering over Achilles, having kindled a flame to emphasise his rage. In terror, the Trojan soldiers then draw back from the corpse of Patroclus, allowing the Achaens to recover his body and mourn his loss. (Homer’s Iliad 18, lines 201–29)
- Title
- Achilles crying out at the trench, confusing the Trojan Army
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- circa 1815
- Medium
- pencil with mauve and grey wash
- Dimensions
- 400 x 277 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1965
- Accession no
- 1965/71
- Copyright
- No known copyright restrictions
- Department
- International Art
- Display status
- Not on display
To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.