Artwork
Hercules and a Muse
Hercules and a Muse is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Markings
- Marked:verso, stamped in purple ink: [unidentified collector's mark RL]
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Altdorfer's 'Hercules and a Muse' is an engraving on laid paper created around 1522. It exemplifies the artist's skill in combining detailed natural settings with mythological figures.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Hercules and a muse in a landscape. The muse gestures towards a distant scene, suggesting a narrative or symbolic connection between the figures and the environment.
Technique & Style
Altdorfer's use of sharp lines and cross-hatching creates a balance between detail and softness, characteristic of his engraving style and the Nuremberg Little Masters.
Context
As a member of the Danube School, Altdorfer was known for integrating figures into expressive landscapes, often treating landscape as a significant element in its own right.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
