The Death of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra

before 1573

Not on view

Engraving, part of a set of 12 small, oval prints of varied subjects, representing scenes of Ancient Roman history or mythology, created by Étienne Delaune before 1573. This print depicts a naked woman, wearing a crown, in the center, running towards the right, likely to prevent two armed soldiers, depicted on the right, from entering the room. On the left, a man with beard sits on a bed while, on the right, behind the soldiers, a woman hides behind a doorway. The subject of this print might be Clytemnestra trying to impede the death of her lover, Aegisthus; the two soldiers would then correspond to Oreste and Pylade, while the hiding woman would be Electra who, according to certain versions of the stoy, instigated the death of both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Catalogue Raisonné

Title: The Death of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra
Artist: Etienne Delaune (French, Orléans 1518/19–1583 Strasbourg)
Date: before 1573
Medium: Engraving
Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed): 1 5/16 × 1 11/16 in. (3.3 × 4.3 cm)
Classifications: Prints, Ornament & Architecture
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1947
Object Number: 47.139.55
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Etienne Delaune

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Cincinnatus and the Roman Messengers

Engraver Engraved by Etienne Delaune

before 1573

François II, King of France, King Consort of Scotland, Etienne Delaune French, Bronze, French, probably Paris — François II, King of France, King Consort of Scotland
Designer After designs of 1559–60 by Etienne Delaune
struck ca. 1600–1635

Shield of Henry II of France (reigned 1547–59), Steel, gold, silver, French — Shield of Henry II of France (reigned 1547–59)
French
ca. 1555

Scrapbook of Drawings and Prints, Gideon Saint British, Pen and ink, engraving and etching — Scrapbook of Drawings and Prints
Gideon Saint
ca. 1760

Pair of Wheellock Pistols, Etienne Delaune French, Steel, gold, silver, brass, wood (walnut), staghorn, pigment, French — Pair of Wheellock Pistols
Designer Decoration on the stocks copied in part from engravings by Etienne Delaune
ca. 1570–80

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