The Sacrifice of Polyxena

This 1728 Sacrifice of Polyxena in the Royal Collection depicts the Trojan princess sacrificed at Achilles' tomb — one of the most tragic episodes in classical mythology and a subject with significant implications for questions of honor, sacrifice, and the costs of war. Polyxena's willing death at the Greek hero's tomb, described by Euripides in the tragedy Hecuba, was understood in the Renaissance as a model of noble self-sacrifice that paralleled the Christian martyrdom tradition. Ricci's late treatment brings his accumulated technical mastery to this classical tragic subject.

The sacrificial scene is staged with theatrical drama, Ricci's luminous palette and confident figure painting creating a composition that balances narrative violence with decorative beauty.