Hecuba offering the robe to Pallas Athena

myminifactory

This is one of several scenic reliefs that Canova made based on the Cesarotti’s translations of Homer. The episode, taken from Canto VI of the Iliad, shows Queen Hecuba of Troy offering a robe to a sacred image of Pallas Athena in the hope of gaining favour with the goddess. The long procession of veiled women that form the scene is considered one of the greatest achievements in this group of reliefs by Canova.