'Aeneas and Dido in the Elysean fields'

'Aneas and Dido in the Elysean Fields' after Frederick Rehburg. Both the artist's name and the title of this printed have been added in pencil suggesting perhaps that this was not a finished print when it came into the Herschels' collection.

The story of Dido and Aeneas was originally told by Virgil but became better known through the 17th century opera by Henry Purcell.
Aeneas and Dido, the Queen of Carthage, fell in love when he and his crew were shipwrecked in Carthage. However, Aeneas had to leave and Dido, unable to live without him, kills herself.

The print represents the moment the lovers meet in the Elysean Fields. Dido though turns away from Aeneas towards her former husband, Sychaeus, sitting beneath a tree.

Object Details

ID: PAH6210
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Rehberg, Frederick
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Herschel Collection
Measurements: Sheet: 368 x 274 mm; Plate: 205 x 263 mm