A detailed seventeenth-century etching depicting the mythological moment Ulysses reveals Achilles among the daughters of King Lycomedes.

This etching by the Flemish artist Frans Ertinger depicts a classical mythological episode from the life of Achilles. According to the legend, Thetis hid her son Achilles on the island of Scyros, disguised as a girl among the daughters of King Lycomedes, to prevent him from participating in the Trojan War. Ulysses, suspecting his presence, arrived at the court disguised as a merchant and presented a collection of goods, including weapons, to the king's daughters. While the women were drawn to jewellery and fabrics, Achilles instinctively reached for the sword, thereby revealing his true identity.

Ertinger captures the moment of discovery with characteristic Baroque theatricality. The composition is framed by architectural elements, including caryatids and decorative cornucopiae, which provide a sense of stage-like depth. Ulysses stands to the left, observing the reaction of the figures. Achilles, positioned centrally, is shown in the act of donning a helmet, his posture contrasting with the more passive, seated figures of the princesses. The artist employs fine, controlled lines to define the drapery of the garments and the musculature of the figures, creating a sense of movement and tension within the scene. The inclusion of putti in the upper register and the detailed rendering of the objects in the basket demonstrate the technical precision typical of seventeenth-century printmaking. This work reflects the period's interest in classical themes and the use of complex, multi-figure compositions to convey narrative drama. The print serves as a record of the visual storytelling traditions that dominated European art during the late seventeenth century, focusing on the intersection of human emotion and legendary action.