Shipwreck of Aeneas

This engraving is based on a painting by Peter Paul Rubens. It shows a dramatic scene from the ‘Aeneid’ by the Roman poet Virgil in which Aeneas and his companions are surprised by a violent storm and suffer a shipwreck. The picture is dominated by a rugged and barren cliff; the sky is heavily clouded and the churning sea with high waves and a fallen tree in the foreground indicate that strong winds are sweeping over the land. Only at second glance do we notice two people in the far-right corner of the engraving, desperately attempting to hold on to two masts – obviously the last remnants of the shipwrecked vessel. Other crew members have survived by reaching land. To the left of the picture at the front, a group of men have lit a campfire from wood they have collected. Rubens, who drew much inspiration in his art from the Italian Renaissance, created the image of a heroic journey with this work. The figure of Aeneas symbolises the unwavering willpower and courage required to overcome even the most adverse conditions.