Hercules Slaying the Hydra, From the Labors of Hercules, 1545
Sebald Behamexpand_more
Engravingexpand_more
Gift of Elizabeth, Julie, and Catherine Andrus in memory of John and Marion Andrusexpand_more 2015.93.19.3
Not on Viewexpand_more
The legendary strongman Hercules was born to the god Zeus and a mortal named Alcmena. This union so incensed Zeus’s wife Hera that she made life almost unbearable for the hero. Her ire resulted in him undertaking a series of tasks, known as the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Sebald Beham challenged his audience’s knowledge of the classical text, engraving three actual labors and nine scenes of Hercules’ exploits before and after his labors.
In this labor, Hercules had to destroy the many-headed hydra. As the hero litters the ground with heads, his nephew Iolaus burns the necks so the heads won’t grow back.
Details
- Title
- Hercules Slaying the Hydra, From the Labors of Hercules
- Artist Life
- 1500–1550
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.93.19.3
- Provenance
- Unidentified collector, possibly Hans von und zu Aufsess (1801-1872), Lugt 2749, Aufsess and Nuremberg. Georg Hamminger (died around 1895), Lugt 1159, Regensburg (sale, Munich, October 1895). Robert Scholtz (1834-1912), Lugt 2241, Budapest (sale, H. G. Gutekunst, Stuttgart, May 1911). Lawrason Riggs (1861-1940), Lugt 1756c, Baltimore. John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn.; by descent to his daughters, Elizabeth, Katie, and Julie; gave to MIA, 2015. Earlier provenances have been gathered, but further research will increase our knowledge of their histories.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Pauli, Hollstein 100 i/iv; Bartsch 102
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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