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The Carrying Away of Helen

Louis Desplaces

1750

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

The Carrying Away of Helen is a 1750 by Louis Desplaces, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Louis Desplaces
When & what style?: 1750
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This print shows a group of people in dramatic poses by the shore. Two men in armor lead the scene, one holding a spear. Behind them, three women in flowing robes walk together, with a child and a dog at their feet. Above, cherubs float in the sky, and in the distance, ships and figures stand on a beach. The title at the bottom hints this tells a story from ancient times. The mix of action and calm figures creates a sense of movement, even though it’s just ink on paper. Look up Victoria and Albert Museum to see more prints like this.

The story of this work

Overview

The print depicts the abduction of Helen, a scene derived from Guido Reni’s earlier composition, rendered in ink on paper. It reproduces Reni’s portrayal of the mythological event, where Helen is taken from Troy. The work belongs to a series of reproductive engravings after Reni’s designs.

Read the full account in the museum source.