1545
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Carrying the Columns of Gades is a 1545 by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows Hercules carrying two large columns. Hercules is a strong figure in the center. He is holding the columns up high. The story behind the columns is interesting - they were set up by Hercules as a gateway to new lands. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Hans Sebald Beham (German, 1500–1550)
According to myth, the Pillars of Hercules are the mountains flanking the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, Beham refers to another interpretation of the pillars as classical columns set up by Hercules in Gades—now the Spanish port of Cádiz—as a gateway to undiscovered realms. Two of Christopher Columbus’s expeditions to the Americas launched from Cádiz. Beham was one of several German printmakers referred to today as the “Little Masters.” They established their artistic prowess by engraving remarkably small prints, appealing to collectors fascinated with miniature objects and curiosities.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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