The plague of Athens, François Perrier, circa 1640

This epidemic, one of the most famous plagues in ancient history, raged in 429 bc. Jc, during the peloponnesian war which opposed athens to sparta. This plague , related by thucydides and lucretia, caused immense devastation in the greek city after having devastated the east, persia and egypt. Alvin clark dates the painting rather to around 1635. Object Type: painting. Date: circa 1640. Dimensions: H. 72; L. 97.5; H. with frame 89; L. with frame 114; Frame 3.8. Medium: oil painting on canvas. Depicted Place: Athens. Collection: Musée des Beaux-Arts. La peste d’Athènes. François Perrier