Hercules Carrying Off the Cattle of Geryon
1528
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1528
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Hercules Carrying Off the Cattle of Geryon is a 1528 ink by Gabriel Salmon, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
The image depicts a dynamic scene of Hercules carrying off the cattle of Geryon. Hercules is shown in the center, grasping a large club in his right hand and holding a rope tied to the cattle with his left. The cattle are positioned on either side of him, with one facing forward and the other backward. In the background, a tree with twisted branches and leaves is visible, adding depth to the composition. A notable detail in the image is the use of bold lines and shading to create a sense of texture and dimensionality. The woodcut technique used in the image gives it a distinctive, graphic quality. For more information on the technique used in this image, you can look up the term "woodcut".
