1545
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Killing the Lernean Hydra is a 1545 by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows Hercules fighting a giant snake, the Lernean Hydra. It's a dramatic scene with lots of action. Hercules is strong and determined, while the snake is fierce and dangerous. The story behind this painting is interesting because it's part of a series of 12 labors of Hercules. The artist fit many stories into small prints, which was a unique skill. To learn more about the artist's use of contrast and shading, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
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. Here, Beham has packed 12 larger-than-life stories of the mighty Hercules into tiny prints. The series includes three of the 12 labors Hercules performed as penance for slaying his children in a fit of madness: Strangling the Nemean Lion , Killing the Lernean Hydra , and Dragging Cerberus from the Underworld . The other scenes depict tales from his life and…
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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