Virgil Reading the "Aeneid" to Augustus, Octavia, and Livia

1790–93

In the late 18th centurly, the French Academy and artist Jacques-Louis David promoted Classical subjects in history paintings as moral exemplars for contemporary audiences. Here, Wicar, one of David's students, depicted the Roman emperor Augustus and his family listening to Virgil’s reading of his epic poem The Aeneid. The emotionally charged gestures of the family suggest that they identify with the heroic events of the poem.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Jean Baptiste Joseph Wicar (French, 1762–1834)

Date

1790–93

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

111.1 × 142.6 cm (43 3/4 × 56 1/8 in.); Framed: 134 × 165.5 × 10.5 cm (52 3/4 × 65 1/8 × 4 1/8 in.)

Origin

France

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Wirt D. Walker Fund