Achilles mourning Patroclus Nikolay Ge (1831-1894)
Nikolay Ge – Achilles mourning Patroclus
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Painter: Nikolay Ge
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Nikolai Ge painted "Achilles Mourns Patroclus" in 1855. In this work he depicted a mythological subject based on Homer’s poem The Iliad. It tells the story of Achilles. The Trojan Hector enlists the help of Apollo to kill Achilles, but Patroclus dies instead, wearing his friend’s armor. The Trojans took the armor as a trophy. Achilles took the loss of his friend so closely that he considered suicide out of grief. The painting shows the dead Patroclus lying on a wooden bed with pillows on a green coverlet.
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Description of the painting "Achilles Laments Patroclus" by Nikolai Ge
Nikolai Ge painted "Achilles Mourns Patroclus" in 1855.
In this work he depicted a mythological subject based on Homer’s poem The Iliad. It tells the story of Achilles. The Trojan Hector enlists the help of Apollo to kill Achilles, but Patroclus dies instead, wearing his friend’s armor. The Trojans took the armor as a trophy. Achilles took the loss of his friend so closely that he considered suicide out of grief.
The painting shows the dead Patroclus lying on a wooden bed with pillows on a green coverlet. His body is half-covered by a cloth. A grieving and weeping Achilles leans over him. His grief is vast and inconsolable.
Not far from them stands Phaedita, Achilles’ mother, holding new forged gold armour for her son that Hephaestus forged at her request.
Among the mourners stands the Myrmidonian warrior who has bowed his head and covered his face with a hand so as not to show his tears.
The images in the painting are depicted with incredibly clear portraiture. In each of them, the artist has clearly prescribed not only the features of the face and body, but also every fold of the garment.
The paints for the fabric the artist chose are bright and saturated, which harmonize with each other. But the background itself, on which the scene is depicted, is very dark. It cannot be called dull, because all the furniture of the room has retained the relief clarity of each object. But the very color palette of brown fully corresponds to the drama of the event taking place.
The sculptural interpretation of the images and the clarity of the heroic themes with which the artist approached the rendering of the subject, combined with the vivid colorfulness of the painting, brought the artist a small gold medal.
Today the painting "Achilles Laments Patroclus" is in the Belarusian Art Museum in Minsk.
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Surrounding them are several figures: on the left, a woman in a flowing blue robe, likely Briseis, stands with her head bowed and one hand resting on an empty shield and helmet that belong to Achilles, symbolizing the loss of his armor and perhaps his will to fight. To the right of Achilles and slightly behind him, a man in classical attire, perhaps a soldier or a grieving companion, covers his face with his hand, overcome by sorrow. In the background, other figures are dimly visible, adding to the somber atmosphere.
The subtexts of this painting are rich and complex, drawing from Greek mythology and exploring themes of love, loss, grief, and the horrors of war. The intense emotional connection between Achilles and Patroclus is palpable, emphasizing not just camaraderie but a deep, possibly romantic, bond that transcends typical portrayals of ancient warfare. Achilless extreme grief can be interpreted as a profound testament to their love and his devastation at the loss. The discarded armor signifies that Achilless fighting spirit is broken, or at least deeply affected, by Patrocluss death. The presence of Briseis, who was a source of contention and part of the catalyst for Patrocluss fateful decision to enter battle, adds another layer of tragedy. The overall mood is one of intense sorrow and despair, highlighting the human cost of conflict and the deep personal tragedies that lie beneath grand heroic narratives.