Turnus voor de tronende Latinus 1654

Wenceslaus Hollar created this print titled 'Turnus voor de tronende Latinus' sometime in the 17th century. Hollar, born in Prague, lived through the Thirty Years' War, a conflict deeply rooted in religious and political fractures across Europe. Here, we see a scene infused with the weight of leadership, ambition, and perhaps, a touch of desperation. Turnus, the suitor, stands before King Latinus. Latinus, caught between political strategy and familial duty, looks beleaguered. It is a study in power, played out against the backdrop of potential war. The women are observers, their presence a silent commentary on the stakes involved. The expressions on their faces—a mix of concern and resignation. Hollar captures not just a moment from Virgil’s Aeneid, but also the emotional undercurrents that define human ambition and the sacrifices it demands.