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Hercules and the Nemean Lion

Gabriel Salmon

1528

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

Hercules and the Nemean Lion is a 1528 ink by Gabriel Salmon, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gabriel Salmon
When & what style?: 1528 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a dramatic battle between a muscular man and a giant lion. The man is wrapped around the lion’s body, one arm gripping its neck while the other holds a club. The lion’s mouth is open wide, and its claws dig into the ground. Trees and bushes fill the background, tangled and wild. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to show the struggle’s intensity. The woodcut technique lets the dark ink stand out against the light paper, making the action feel raw. Look up woodcut to see how this printing method works.