“Venus Directing Aeneas and Achates to Carthage,” an oil painting created by Angelica Kauffman in 1768, exemplifies the Neoclassical movement. This artwork falls within the genres of mythological and history painting, reflecting the period’s fascination with classical antiquity and heroic narratives.
The artwork captures a mythological scene where the goddess Venus, adorned in a flowing white garment, gestures gracefully towards the distance, presumably directing Aeneas and his companion Achates towards Carthage. Aeneas, clad in ancient warrior attire with a helmet and a spear, stands attentively alongside Achates, who similarly bears the attire of a soldier. The background opens up to a serene landscape with subtle light illuminating Venus’s figure, lending a sense of divine guidance and purpose to the scene. The overall composition and Kauffman’s meticulous attention to detail bring forth the narrative’s emotive and historical essence, characteristic of Neoclassical art.
