1550
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Hercules as a Child is a 1550 by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a muscular baby Hercules strangling two snakes in a cradle. Behind him, a winged figure watches from a balcony, while cherubs peek over a ledge. The scene is framed by ornate carvings and a date stamp in the corner. The artist used deep shadows and strong contrasts to make the figures pop off the page. This was a common trick in Renaissance prints to add drama. Next, check out the technique called *chiaroscuro* to see how light and dark create depth.
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
