The Arrival of the Trojans at the Strophades Islands and the Attack of the Harpies

For the decoration of one of the rooms in Duke Alfonso I of Ferrara’s private apartments in the capital of his duchy, Dosso Dossi executed a frieze comprising ten horizontal canvases of episodes from Virgil’s Aeneid, of which this new acquisition is one. It depicts the attack by the fearful Harpies on the Trojans as they were carousing in the Strophades Islands. Titian’s celebrated Bacchanals, also in the Museum’s collection (P418 and P419), were part of the same decorative programme.