Panthea before Cyrus the Great c. 17th century

Pieter Crijnse Volmarijn made this pen and brown ink drawing entitled "Panthea before Cyrus the Great" in the 17th century. Volmarijn was from the Netherlands, and he was influenced by classical antiquity in both subject matter and style. Here, we see a scene from Xenophon's "Cyropaedia," which tells the story of Cyrus the Great. Cyrus, a benevolent conqueror, is depicted receiving Panthea, a captured woman of legendary beauty. The drawing emphasizes the virtues of leadership and mercy, offering a vision of ideal governance. It also reflects the cultural milieu of the Dutch Republic, which, having recently won its independence, was in search of exemplars for a new nation. To fully understand this work, art historians consult texts like Xenophon's, study the visual codes of 17th-century Dutch art, and analyze the patronage networks that sustained artists like Volmarijn. In this way, we understand how art reflects and shapes social values.