The Death of Hercules
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
The Death of Hercules is a 1528 ink by Gabriel Salmon, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a muscular man lying on a bed of leaves and branches. His face is twisted in pain, and his body is wrapped in a sheet. Around him, small figures—some holding arrows—stand at the edges, watching. The scene looks wild, with swirling clouds and tangled vines filling the background. The artist carved this scene into wood, then printed it. That’s why the lines are sharp and the shading is simple—no brushstrokes, just deep black against light paper. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists like this made prints before photography.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
