Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra
Plaquette
ca. 1500 (made)
ca. 1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plaquette, depicting Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra is made by the Master of the Labours of Hercules, who was a follower of Moderno.
The design can be roughly dated by the appearance of the same composition in an architectural relief on the Porta della Rana of the Duomo at Como (1507). It represents the second labour, the killing of the several-headed monster with ravaged the country of Lerna. Each time a head was cut off, two more grew in its place. Hercules overcame the creature, with a companion's help, using a burning torch to seal each neck, and burying the last immortal head under a rock.
The design can be roughly dated by the appearance of the same composition in an architectural relief on the Porta della Rana of the Duomo at Como (1507). It represents the second labour, the killing of the several-headed monster with ravaged the country of Lerna. Each time a head was cut off, two more grew in its place. Hercules overcame the creature, with a companion's help, using a burning torch to seal each neck, and burying the last immortal head under a rock.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra, by the Master of the Labours of Hercules, Italy, ca. 1500 |
| Physical description | Hercules stands naked, except for the lion's skin, his club lifted in his right hand. With his left hand he throttles the hydra, a monster with a woman's head and breasts and a serpent's body. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. Historical significance: The design can be roughly dated by the appearance of the same composition in an architectural relief on the Porta della Rana of the Duomo at Como (1507). It represents the second labour, the killing of the several-headed monster with ravaged the country of Lerna. Each time a head was cut off, two more grew in its place. Hercules overcame the creature, with a companion's help, using a burning torch to seal each neck, and burying the last immortal head under a rock. |
| Production | the Master of the Labours of Hercules, was a follower of Moderno. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This plaquette, depicting Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra is made by the Master of the Labours of Hercules, who was a follower of Moderno. The design can be roughly dated by the appearance of the same composition in an architectural relief on the Porta della Rana of the Duomo at Como (1507). It represents the second labour, the killing of the several-headed monster with ravaged the country of Lerna. Each time a head was cut off, two more grew in its place. Hercules overcame the creature, with a companion's help, using a burning torch to seal each neck, and burying the last immortal head under a rock. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.444-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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