The Sacrifice of Polyxena
1667
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1667
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman in a white dress stands blindfolded on a stone altar, arms tied behind her back. Behind her, a warrior on a rearing horse looms over the scene. Soldiers and grieving women fill the background. This painting shows the moment before Polyxena is killed as a sacrifice. The story comes from ancient Greek myths about the fall of Troy. The artist uses strong light and shadow to make the figures look solid and real, even though the scene is dramatic and sad. If you like how the figures feel almost like statues, look up *chiaroscuro*.
![The Martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/a51e90060085a207/thumb.webp)
