De Chirico treated the theme of Hector et Andromache many times in his work. The first versions date from 1916 and 1917. According to Maurizio Fagiolo dell'Arco the present version, previously thought to date from 1916, dates from circa 1930. The subject marries several of de Chirico's favourite themes: those of mannequins, classical heroes and metaphysical meaning.

De Chirico's use of mannequins was "originally inspired by a play written by de Chirico's brother in which the main protagonist is a 'man without voice, without eyes or face'." De Chirico himself confirmed this when he wrote, "the idea of these large heads shaped like an egg, which one also sees in my standing mannequins of the metaphysical type, came to me from seeing the maquettes designed by my brother who used the pseudonym Alberto Savinio". (E. Cowling and J. Mundy, On Classical Ground, exhibition catalogue, London, 1990, pp. 81-82). The interest in the Classical age derives from his childhood which was spent in Greece and his education in Munich where he became familiar with the works of Nietzche and with Schopenhauer's German romantic vision of the classical world.

Sold with a photocertificate from James Thrall Soby dated Oct. 19 1971. Maurizio Fagiolo dell'Arco has dated the work to circa 1930