The artwork titled “Detail of Dido, from Aeneid Presents Cupid, Disguised as Ascanius, to Dido” is a fresco created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1757. This mythological painting is part of the Rococo art movement.
The artwork depicts a classical scene drawn from Virgil’s epic, the Aeneid. The focal point of the painting is Dido, Queen of Carthage, who is seated to the left of the composition, draped in luxurious robes and displaying a gesture of invitation or contemplation. Before her stands a figure in armor, holding a staff and accompanied by two other figures – an older bearded man and a young boy with wings and a quiver of arrows, identified as Cupid disguised as Ascanius. The setting is majestic, with grand architectural elements such as towering columns and an expansive background that suggests an open, airy space under a blue sky adorned with clouds and birds. The balance in composition and the vivid detailing are a testament to Tiepolo’s masterful command of the fresco medium, characteristic of the Rococo style’s emphasis on elegance, movement, and decorative grace.
