Venus preventing Aeneas from killing Helen 1790 - 1800

Johann Tobias Sergel made this drawing, Venus preventing Aeneas from killing Helen, using pen and brown wash on paper. The relatively simple means of production – the directness of ink on paper – gives it a remarkable immediacy. The artist has exploited the fluidity of the wash to imbue the scene with a sense of drama. Look at how he evokes the intensity of the moment: the billowing drapery, the terrified expression of the kneeling woman, the rage of the warrior Aeneas. There’s a raw, spontaneous quality here; the artist is thinking on paper, allowing the tonal variations of the wash to describe the scene. Sergel was a sculptor, and the sculptural solidity of the figures speaks to his primary occupation. The drawing is also about theatricality. In the 18th century, both sculpture and theater were understood as public arts, meant to move and persuade their audiences. Materials, making, and context are therefore of paramount importance. By drawing our attention to the performative aspects of the scene, Sergel reminds us that art is as much about persuasion and emotional effect as it is about technical skill.