A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Frans Ertinger depicting the climactic duel between Achilles and Hector from the Iliad.

This etching by Frans Ertinger depicts the final confrontation between the Greek hero Achilles and the Trojan prince Hector. The composition follows the conventions of seventeenth-century history prints, framing the central combat within an architectural structure. Flanking the scene are two herms, or terminal figures, which provide a sense of theatrical staging common to the period. Above the combatants, putti hold garlands, while the figure of Athena, identifiable by her owl, oversees the outcome of the duel.

Ertinger employs a precise etching technique to define the musculature of the figures and the metallic sheen of their armour. The action is captured at the moment Hector falls, his posture conveying the weight of his defeat. In the background, the walls of Troy are visible, providing context to the narrative. The foreground features a pair of fighting birds, a symbolic detail that mirrors the conflict occurring between the two warriors.

As a Flemish artist active in the late seventeenth century, Ertinger was part of a tradition that valued technical clarity and classical subject matter. His work often reflects the influence of contemporary painters who sought to translate epic poetry into visual form. This print demonstrates the period's interest in balanced, structured compositions where every element, from the decorative border to the central figures, contributes to the overall narrative. The monochromatic nature of the etching allows the viewer to focus on the draughtsmanship and the dynamic tension between the two protagonists. This piece is a representative example of the printmaking output that circulated classical themes among European collectors during the Baroque era.