Dido Receiving Aeneas and Cupid Disguised as Ascanius
Francesco Solimena's "Dido Receiving Aeneas and Cupid Disguised as Ascanius," painted around 1720, is more than just a depiction of a pivotal moment in Virgil’s *Aeneid*; it’s a masterclass in Baroque drama, light, and the potent allure of unrequited love. The canvas explodes with theatricality, transporting the viewer to the opulent court of Queen Dido of Carthage, where a fateful encounter is about to unfold. Solimena, a leading figure in…












