Description
Carved in low relief, this plaque was probably made to decorate a small casket. It is based on an engraving by Barthel Beham (1502–40) entitled by the artist RAPTUS / HELENAE (The Abduction of Helen). The subject here, however, is not the abduction of Queen Helen by the Trojan prince Paris (calling for princely attire) but a generic "battle of wild men," itself a popular Renaissance subject. The artist may have given some of the abductors African facial features to make them look more savage to European viewers.
Results