:host { --enviso-primary-color: #FF8A21; --enviso-secondary-color: #FF8A21; font-family: 'boijmans-font', Arial, Helvetica,sans-serif; } .enviso-basket-button-wrapper { position: relative; top: 5px; } .enviso-btn { font-size: 22px; } .enviso-basket-button-items-amount { font-size: 12px; line-height: 1; background: #F18700; color: white; border-radius: 50%; width: 24px; height: 24px; min-width: 0; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; padding: 0; top: -13px; right: -12px; } .enviso-dialog-content { overflow: auto; } Previous Next Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest Tiktok Linkedin Back to top

Cookie settings

We place functional cookies to let this website function properly, analytic cookies to track usage and marketing cookies to improve your experience on this website. These cookies don't use personal information. If you don't want cookies you can change your cookie settings. Want to know more? Please check our cookies page.

Without a time slot you cannot visit the depot

Donors, friends and guests with a privilege pass may book a single or multiple time slots here
Donors, friends and guests with a privilege pass may book a single or multiple time slots here

Tickets

Join as a Friend

Would you also like to experience more Boijmans or give a friendship as a gift? Join as a Friend and get invited for the annual Museumpark Vriendendag. Will we see you or your friend in the depot soon?

Word vriend
Home Collection Artworks The Death of Achilles

  • Also from the collection Old Masters

    The Empty Glass

    Pieter de Hooch, 1650 - 1655

  • Also from the collection Old Masters

    Still Life with Ham, Lobster and Fruit

    Jan Davidsz. de Heem, circa 1652

  • Also in exhibition De collectie als tijdmachine (2017)

    Self-Portrait

    Carel Fabritius, circa 1645

  • Also in exhibition The Collection Enriched (2011)

    A Young Woman at Her Toilet

    Gerard Dou, 1667

The Death of Achilles

The Death of Achilles

Peter Paul Rubens (in 1630 - 1635)

Artwork Ask anything Photo & Video

Ask anything

  • Daivs asked

    Is there any videos or images taken of this painting? I've only come across one picture of it on display, and it was shown briefly in both videos about The Wrath of Achilles (which were made by this museum). This is one of my favorite pieces and I would love to see it. I understand its in depot and renovations are going on, but maybe there media from before then. Thanks!

  • Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

    Dear Davis, Thank you for your question. I'm afraid that you have seen most of the images that are available. There are three options: 1) you could come to the depot, get a ticket for a free guided tour and then be so lucky that your tour visits the storage room for paintings (A2.13). 2) you can book a custom made guided tour; this tour is not free of charges. 3) Since a few months you also have the option of a private viewing. You come to the depot, to one of the study rooms, and our art handlers bring the piece from the storage and bring it back to the storage. This service is not free either. Kind regards, Els

  • Jerdja asked

    Which sources or texts that Rubens chose as the references for making The Life of Achilles painting series, especially the scene of Achilles' death?

  • Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

    Dear Jerdja, for this question you need to consult literature about Rubens and his working practice. I would start with the book I mentioned before: The Life of Achilles by Friso Lammertse et al. Kind regards,
    Els

  • Jerdja Rujirat asked

    I wonder if the animals in front of Achilles (a fox and a griffon?) are symbolics. What do they mean?
    The pillar on the left and right depicted of whom, Venus and Apollo? And if the snake on the right is Python, why does it appear in this scene?
    Thank you.

  • Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

    Dear Jerdja, thanks for asking. As Achilles is hit in his heel by the poisonous arrow, the scene is mirrored by a fox attacking an eagle. The Greek hero is compared to an eagle and Paris (sneakily led by Apollo) to a wily fox. I am not sure about the snake, it might be symbolizing evil and treason, as a snakes do more often. The whole series of oil sketches has been described and explained in a book by Friso Lammertse, our former curator of old art: The Life of Achilles. You might find it in a good art library. Good luck with your research! Els

  • Paul Nadzikewycz asked

    Original tapestry value

  • Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

    Hi Paul, as a museum we usually don't make statements about the value of objects. Best, Rianne

Loading...

Thank you. Your question has been submitted.

Unfortunately something has gone wrong while sending your question. Please try again.

Request high-res image

More information
Read aloud

Achilles was killed by Paris, the son of the Trojan king Priam, when he was waiting the arrival of Polyxena, the daughter of Priam, in the temple of Apollo Thymbraeus. While Achilles was making a sacrifice in honour of his forthcoming marriage to Polyxena, Paris, assisted by Apollo, shot him in his only vulnerable spot - the heel. The last sketch in the series shows Paris on the left next to Apollo, shooting the arrow. The dying Achilles is supported by a man who has been identified as Automedon or Odysseus. The priest looks at Achilles in despair, a third figure, Antilochus, turns away in fear towards Paris and Apollo. This is the last of a series of eight oil sketches showing scenes from the life of the Greek hero Achilles.

Read more Read less

Collection book

Collection book Order

Specifications

Title The Death of Achilles
Material and technique Oil on panel
Object type
Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location This object is in storage
Dimensions Height 45,3 cm
Width 46 cm
Artists Painter: Peter Paul Rubens
Accession number 1760 e (OK)
Credits Gift D.G. van Beuningen, 1933
Department Old Masters
Acquisition date 1933
Creation date in 1630 - 1635
Collector Collector / D.G. van Beuningen
Internal exhibitions Petrus Paulus Rubens in het Museum Boijmans (1933)
Schilderkunst uit de eerste hand, Olieverfschetsen van Tintoretto tot Goya (1983)
The Collection Enriched (2011)
De collectie als tijdmachine (2017)
Material
Object
Geographical origin Southern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe

All about the artist

Peter Paul Rubens

Siegen 1577 - Antwerpen 1640

The Antwerp painter Peter Paul Rubens was appointed court artist to the Duke of Mantua in Italy at a young age. In 1603 he travelled to Madrid, where he was...

Bekijk het volledige profiel

See this too

landscape-with-a-waterfall
In depot
Landscape with a Waterfall Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
a-cornfield-in-the-background-the-zuiderzee
In depot
A Cornfield, in the Background the Zuiderzee Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
thetis-dipping-the-infant-achilles-into-the-river-styx
In depot
Thetis Dipping the Infant Achilles into the River Styx Peter Paul Rubens
summer-landscape
In depot
Summer Landscape Barend Cornelis Koekkoek
easy-come-easy-go
In depot
'Easy Come, Easy Go' Jan Havicksz. Steen
breakfast-piece
In depot
Breakfast Piece Pieter Claesz.
the-wrath-of-achilles
In depot
The Wrath of Achilles Peter Paul Rubens
the-union-of-england-and-scotland
In depot
The Union of England and Scotland Peter Paul Rubens
the-entombment-of-christ
In depot
The entombment of Christ Pieter van der Werff
pyramus-and-thisbe
In depot
Pyramus and Thisbe Abraham Hondius
utrecht-saint-mary-s-square-and-saint-mary-s-church
In depot
View of Saint Mary's Square and Saint Mary's Church, Utrecht Pieter Jansz. Saenredam
the-gold-weigher
In depot
The gold-weigher Salomon Koninck
the-death-of-hector
In depot
The Death of Hector Peter Paul Rubens
dead-swan
In depot
Dead Swan Jan Weenix
titus-at-his-desk
In depot
Titus at His Desk Rembrandt van Rijn
interior-with-a-woman-at-the-virginal
In depot
Interior with a Woman at the Virginal Emanuel de Witte