Giovanni Caraglio (Artist), Rosso Fiorentino (After)

Hercules Killing the Hydra of Lerna

Hercules Killing the Hydra of Lerna by Giovanni Caraglio, Rosso Fiorentino

Artwork Detail

Many artists looked back to Michelangelo as a source when drawing the muscular male body, particularly when depicting Hercules, who personified physical strength and courageous heroism. Along with his battle with the Hydra of Lerna, one of the twelve labours of Hercules involved him descending into the underworld to capture Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades. Although a number of artists depict Hercules with an upraised club, in fact the tale states that he caught the monstrous hound by the throat until it weakened and yielded to him. (Monsters and Maidens, 2004)

Title
Hercules Killing the Hydra of Lerna
Artist/creator
Giovanni Caraglio, Rosso Fiorentino
Production date
circa 1524
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
216 x 180 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, gift of Ann Andrews and Robert Newton, 1993
Accession no
1992/36
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

To find out which artworks are available for print requests and reproduction please enquire here. This service only applies to select artworks in the Gallery's collection.