Jean-Baptiste Germain (1841–1910)

Jean‑Baptiste Germain Aeneas Taking Leave from Dido is a bronze sculpture that captures one of the most dramatic moments of Virgil's Aeneid. The armored Aeneas's rigid, forward-looking posture and Dido's pleading gesture, leaning towards him, sharply contrast the conflict between duty and emotion. The proximity of the figures does not resolve but rather amplifies the tension of the farewell. The strength of the composition lies in the restrained movements and the precise balance of psychological emphases.