Hercules and Cacus, c. 1505-1520

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As one of his twelve labors, Hercules had to capture the cattle of the monstrous Geryon. He succeeded, only to have Cacus, a fire-breathing monster, steal some of the cattle, hide them in his cave, and then block the entrance with a boulder. Hercules used his great strength to break into the cave and beat the thief to death. The Master of Year 1515 takes a ribald approach to Cacus's misery, sandwiching him between Hercules and the horse so Cacus is scarcely discernible. The most prominent feature of the entire print may be the horse's rump.

Details
Title
Hercules and Cacus
Artist Life
active in Italy, c. 1515-1520
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.68.216
Provenance
Knoedler & Co., 1926
Catalogue Raisonne
Hind 5 ii/ii (lists 7 imps); B.1 (this imp. described); 7 imps. known to Kristeller
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These 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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