History of Achilles: Achilles discovered among the daughters of Lycomedes

The printmaker Franz Ertinger (1640/48-1710) is poorly documented but operated prolifically and successfully in an international market, with his prints published in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Paris. Born in Colmar, which in the midst of the Thirty Years' War was in disputed territory, the city was recaptured by Louis XIV in 1673. Ertinger is variously claimed as German and Flemish - this print was made in Antwerp in 1679 - and he died in Paris.

This is the third of eight etchings after Rubens's designs for tapestries depicting the life of Achilles from his early youth until his death. A series of oil sketches, modelli and large cartoons (c. 1630-35) were made in order to prepare for the weaving of the tapestries; but it is after the oil sketches that Ertinger made this series of etchings. Several of the sketches, including the one that inspired this etching, are now in the Museum Boijams Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. It is the sole representative of the series currently in Te Papa's collection, and is certainly as dramatic as any of them.

Homer's Iliad tells us of how to avoid being sent to Troy, Achilles dressed himself as a girl and mixed with the daughters of King Lycomedes. Six of them are gathered around a basket with jewels and armour which they have received as a gift  from Ulysses, as part of his ruse to find Achilles amongst them. Achilles stands at the centre, dressed in female clothes and is recognised by Diomedes and Ulysses. He shows no interest in the jewels, nor in the consternation he is obviously creating, but instead is trying on a helmet. Deidamia looks at him, trying to warn him not to betray himself, but it's too late!  The composition is set within a frame with sculpted terms of Athena and a personification of 'Cunning' with a fox on either side, two cornucopia in foreground, a cartouche with garlands and putti above.

The etching is mounted in a bound album known as the King George IV album, and was purchased by the Dominion Museum in 1910.

Sources:

British Museum, Collection online, https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3184590&partId=1&searchText= rubens+achilles&page=1

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, 'Achilles recognised among the daughters of Lycomedes', https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/artworks/3591/achilles-recognized-among-the-daughters-of-lycomedes

Dr Mark Stocker    Curator, Historical International Art   March 2019