BALESTRA, Antonio
(b. 1666, Verona, d. 1740, Verona)

Theseus Discovering his Father's Sword

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Oil on canvas, 287 x 159 cm
Private collection

Theseus is a legendary Greek hero, king of Athens, and a famous slayer of monsters. Though his father was the king of Athens, Theseus was born and brought up in Troezen. Here his father placed a sword and sandals under a heavy rock and left orders that his child was to follow him to Athens when he was strong enough to lift the rock and bring the tokens hidden underneath.