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The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1774: Hercules and the Dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides

Giuseppe Vasi

1774

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Mythology

Dominant colour

The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1774: Hercules and the Dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides is a 1774 ink by Giuseppe Vasi, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giuseppe Vasi
When & what style?: 1774 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a big, fake stage set up like a grand building. Statues and columns line the top, while people and animals move around the base. Trees and a rocky hill sit in the middle, with a few figures climbing or standing near them. The text at the bottom says this was built for a special event in 1774. It looks like a mix of real architecture and theater props. Want to know more? Try looking up etching.