Hercules Destroys the Lernaean Hydra, 1550
Heinrich Aldegreverexpand_more
Engravingexpand_more
The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916expand_more P.98
Not on Viewexpand_more
The deeds of Hercules were endlessly popular in the Renaissance as models of strength and virtue. Heinrich Aldegrever portrays the hero engaged in two particularly desperate labors. In one he had to crush the menacing nine-headed Hydra-difficult to do because each time a head was cut off, two appeared in its place. The other task was to descend to Hades and bring back Cerberus, the hideous beast guarding the entrance to the underworld.
Details
- Title
- Hercules Destroys the Lernaean Hydra
- Artist Life
- 1502–after 1555/61
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.98
- Provenance
- W.B. Scott, Lugt 2607
- Catalogue Raisonne
- H.86; B.86, 391
- Curator Approved
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