The Trojans Building the Temple to Venus at Eryx and Making Offerings at Anchises's Grave c. 1520

Dosso Dossi painted this oil on canvas illustrating a scene from Virgil’s Aeneid in the 16th century. The subject matter of the painting—the Trojans building a temple and honouring Anchises—connects to the Renaissance humanist interest in classical literature and values. The painting creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. It reflects the social structures of its time through the lens of classical mythology. Dossi was working in Ferrara, Italy, at the court of the Este family. The Este were known for their patronage of the arts and their cultivation of a sophisticated court culture. This painting can be seen as an example of courtly art, designed to impress and entertain its aristocratic audience with its display of erudition and artistic skill. Understanding the meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context. To gain more insight into this piece, one can research courtly culture in Renaissance Italy, the Este family, and the influence of classical literature on Renaissance art.