Hercules and the Serpents
Roundel
ca. 1480 (made)
ca. 1480 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The infant hero is shown slaying the snakes sent against him by the goddess Juno on this medallion. The relief and its pendant 'Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar' (149-1882) together with that of 'Hercules and the Ceryneian Stag' in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, may be identified with three bronze roundels listed in the inventory of Ferdinando Gonzaga's collection, prepared in 1627. The style can be compared to works by the famous painter and printmaker, Andrea Mantegna 91430/31-1506). Mantegna was the Gonzaga court artist, and it is possible that he supplied designs for Antico to use.
Antico (Pier Jacopo di Antonio Alari-Bonacolsi, ca. 1460-1528) was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. He was nick-named Antico, because in his work he related heavily to Antiquity. He re-created small scale statuettes of famous antique examples. He was active at the Gonzaga court at Mantua and made many bronzes for the court, notably for Ludovico, Bishop of Mantua and Isabella d'Este, wife of Francesco II Gonzaga, 4th Marchese of Mantua. He was also a restorer of antique statues and an adviser to art collectors.
Antico (Pier Jacopo di Antonio Alari-Bonacolsi, ca. 1460-1528) was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. He was nick-named Antico, because in his work he related heavily to Antiquity. He re-created small scale statuettes of famous antique examples. He was active at the Gonzaga court at Mantua and made many bronzes for the court, notably for Ludovico, Bishop of Mantua and Isabella d'Este, wife of Francesco II Gonzaga, 4th Marchese of Mantua. He was also a restorer of antique statues and an adviser to art collectors.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Hercules and the Serpents (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Roundel, bronze, Infant Hercules and the Serpents, by Antico, Italy (Mantua), ca. 1480 |
| Physical description | This medallion is decorated in relief with the infant Hercules on a couch strangling the serpents sent by Juno, who appears above in her car drawn by peacocks, while beside the couch are Alcmena and an aged woman, in attitudes expressive of amazement and terror. With the medallion is a wood frame covered with carved foliage in low relief. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | BRONZE ROUNDELS, About 1480
Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, called Antico (about 1455-1528)
These roundels may have been made
for a study belonging to a member of the Gonzaga family in Mantua. They show scenes from the Greek legend of Hercules, who was the personification of strength and therefore a popular subject.
Left, the infant Hercules strangles
poisonous snakes sent to kill him by
the goddess Juno, who flies overhead
in a chariot drawn by peacocks. Right,
Hercules has captured the fierce boar
that terrorised Mount Erymanthus.
Left
The Infant Hercules Strangling the Serpents
Museum no. 58-1881
Right
Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar
Museum no. 149-1882
Italy, Mantua,
Bronze(2019) |
| Object history | Purchased in London (R. Pinti, £1000) in 1881. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The infant hero is shown slaying the snakes sent against him by the goddess Juno on this medallion. The relief and its pendant 'Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar' (149-1882) together with that of 'Hercules and the Ceryneian Stag' in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, may be identified with three bronze roundels listed in the inventory of Ferdinando Gonzaga's collection, prepared in 1627. The style can be compared to works by the famous painter and printmaker, Andrea Mantegna 91430/31-1506). Mantegna was the Gonzaga court artist, and it is possible that he supplied designs for Antico to use. Antico (Pier Jacopo di Antonio Alari-Bonacolsi, ca. 1460-1528) was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. He was nick-named Antico, because in his work he related heavily to Antiquity. He re-created small scale statuettes of famous antique examples. He was active at the Gonzaga court at Mantua and made many bronzes for the court, notably for Ludovico, Bishop of Mantua and Isabella d'Este, wife of Francesco II Gonzaga, 4th Marchese of Mantua. He was also a restorer of antique statues and an adviser to art collectors. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 58-1881 |
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| Record created | July 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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