Andromache and Pyrrhus

Andromache and Pyrrhus (French: Andromaque et Pyrrhus) is an oil on canvas neoclassical history painting by the French artist Pierre-Narcisse Guérin, from 1810. It is held in the Louvre, in Paris.^[1]

Andromache and Pyrrhus
Artist	Pierre-Narcisse Guérin
Year	1810
Type	Oil on canvas, history painting
Dimensions	342 cm × 457 cm (135 in × 180 in)
Location	Louvre, Paris

History and description

The canvas includes two scene's taken from Jean Racine's 1677 tragedy Phèdre, in one composition.^[2] It portrays Pyrrhus, seated on a throne and receiving a message delivered by Orestes demanding the death of Astyanax. Andromache wraps her arms protectively round the young Astyanax. Pyrrhus, seated, extends his hand and scepter to Andromache who is on her knees and weeping, and places her under his protection. On the left, Hermione, jealous of her rival's power, walks away in anger. Pyrrhus falls in love with his prisoner Andromache, widow of the Trojan hero Hector, killed by Achilles, but he intends, in principle, to marry Hermione, daughter of Menelaus, king of Sparta. As for Orestes, he passionately loves Hermione. The background of the scene is very plain. Pyrrhus is seated in a throne and dressed regally in red, while Andromache is fully dressed in white, traditionally the colour of innocence.^[3]

Provenance

The painting was exhibited at the Salon of 1810 and the Salon of 1814. It was acquired by Louis XVIII, in 1822, for the collection of the Louvre.^[4]