Venus Appearing to Aeneas and Achates

The subject is taken from Virgil’s Aeneid (1:314-371). The goddess Venus, the mother of Aeneas, appeared to him twice, first in the midst of burning Troy to bid him be on his way. Later, when the Troyan were washed ashore near Carthage after the storm at sea, Aeneas and his friend Achates set out to explore Venus appeared once more, this time with bow and quiver disguised as a huntress, to direct them to Dido’s palace.

This painting depicts the moment in which Venus appears to the Trojan warriors disguised as a huntress and directs them to Queen Dido’s palace.