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Not currently on display at the V&A

Hercules Slaying the Hydra

Oil Painting
ca. 1690-1725 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Louis Chéron (1660-1725) was a French painter and illustrator who settled in England; his presence is first recorded in 1693, and he was naturalised in 1710. In Greek mythology Hercules slew several dangerous monsters, including, as his second labour, the nine-headed Hydra. Whenever he severed one of its heads, two grew in its place, until his nephew Iolaus seared the stumps with fire.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHercules Slaying the Hydra (generic title)
Materials and techniques
oil on canvas
Brief description
Oil painting, 'Hercules Slaying the Hydra', Louis Chéron (formerly attibuted to John Hamilton Mortimer), late 17th or early 18th century
Physical description
Oil painting
Dimensions
  • Estimate height: 43.8cm
  • Estimate width: 38.7cm
  • Frame height: 58cm
  • Frame width: 53cm
  • With frame weight: 4.5kg
Dimensions taken from Summary catalogue of British Paintings, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1973
Style
Object history
Purchased, 1870
Production
Previously attributed to John Hamilton Mortimer
Subject depicted
Literary referenceGreek mythology
Summary
Louis Chéron (1660-1725) was a French painter and illustrator who settled in England; his presence is first recorded in 1693, and he was naturalised in 1710. In Greek mythology Hercules slew several dangerous monsters, including, as his second labour, the nine-headed Hydra. Whenever he severed one of its heads, two grew in its place, until his nephew Iolaus seared the stumps with fire.
Collection
Accession number
99-1870

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Record createdMay 13, 2003
Record URL
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