This French Neoclassical masterpiece by Joseph Desire Court depicts a scene from the Iliad in which Achilles consults with the eldest of the Achaeans leaders, Nestor of Pylos. To Nestor's left sits a docile Agamemnon who has been quarreling with Achilles. This moment is one of great tension in the Iliad as it marks the beginning of the end of that quarrel.

Achilles Gives Nestor the Price of Wisdom

The darkness of the entire work is contrasted by a bright emphasis on Achilles who is the central figure of the work. The beauty of the male nude form is accentuated by the fact that only Achilles is nude incontrast to the heavy robes and armor of the rest of the court of Nestor. You can purchase a reproduction of this masterpiece at my online store.