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Helen and Cassandra

Frederick Sandys

1866

Wood engraving by Joseph Swain

7 x 5 inches

Illustration for Once a Week, 28 April, 1866, facing p.454.

The scene shows the prophetess Cassandra berating Helen as Troy burns in the background; the flames are both literal and a metaphorical showing of anger. Helen is the type of petulance Sandys favoured, tugging at something in her mouth in the manner of a spoiled child.

[Click on image to enlarge it, and mouse over text to find links.]

Details

  • Troy on fire
  • Amphora in the background
  • Cassandra's foot on mirror
  • The women's heads

    • Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke.

    [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

    Further Reading and image resources, suggested by Dennis T. Lanigan

    Elzea, Betty. Frederick Sandys 1829-1904. A Catalogue Raisonné. Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Antique Collectors' Club Ltd., 2001, cat. 2.B.28, 229.

    Helen and Cassandra (1866, pencil and brush and black ink). Collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, accession no. 1906P878. Birmingham Museums Trust. Web. 25 August 2025.

    Helen and Cassandra (1866, wood engraving by Joseph Swain in black ink). Collection of Victoria and Albert Museum, accession no. E.13888-1910. Victoria and Albert Museum. Web. 25 August 2025.


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    Created 17 July 2013

    Last modified (further reading added) 25 August 2025