Artwork

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

The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1774: Hercules and the Dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giuseppe Vasi. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:Lettered LL: "Cav. Paolo Posi Architetto invento' ", LC: "Giuseppe Palazzi delineo' " and LR: "Cav. Giuseppe Vasi incise" Lettered LC, below image: "Disegno della Prima Machina nella quale si rappresenta la celebre impresa di Ercole negl'Esperidi [...] l'anno 1774"

About this work

Trees and a rocky hill sit in the middle, with a few figures climbing or standing near them.

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.

Overview

The Prima Macchina for the Chinea of 1774: Hercules and the Dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides is an etching by Giuseppe Vasi, created in 1774. It depicts a large, ephemeral structure.

Subject & Meaning

The etching shows a grand, temporary stage set with statues, columns, and figures, representing a mythological scene: Hercules and the dragon in the Garden of the Hesperides. The structure combines architectural and theatrical elements.

Technique & Style

The work is an etching, a printmaking technique used to create detailed images. Vasi's use of etching allowed for the capture of intricate architectural and figurative details in the temporary structure.