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Source Description
This engraved plaque, along with Walters 41.71, show scenes from the life of the mythological hero Hercules and were initially set into a sumptuous, gilded casket that belonged to the ducal Gonzaga family of Mantua. Hercules was famous for his strength and virtue, and princes often surrounded themselves with his image as an ideal for (and an idealized image of) themselves. This scene is from the Twelve Labors of Hercules, tasks given to him by King Eurystheus, who thought they were impossible to accomplish, including killing a many-headed hydra (dragon). At some point the casket was taken apart; eight related plaques are preserved.Hercules's powerful musculature reveals Fontana's study of ancient sculpture. His reputation as a fine engraver of rock crystal was widespread. In 1585, the duke of Savoy commissioned from him a casket decorated with plaques similar to this for Archduchess Isabella on the occasion of her marriage.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
3013
label
Plaque with Hercules Attacking the Lernean Hydra
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
3013
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Plaque with Hercules Attacking the Lernean Hydra
description
This engraved plaque, along with Walters 41.71, show scenes from the life of the mythological hero Hercules and were initially set into a sumptuous, gilded casket that belonged to the ducal Gonzaga family of Mantua. Hercules was famous for his strength and virtue, and princes often surrounded themselves with his image as an ideal for (and an idealized image of) themselves. This scene is from the Twelve Labors of Hercules, tasks given to him by King Eurystheus, who thought they were impossible to accomplish, including killing a many-headed hydra (dragon). At some point the casket was taken apart; eight related plaques are preserved.Hercules's powerful musculature reveals Fontana's study of ancient sculpture. His reputation as a fine engraver of rock crystal was widespread. In 1585, the duke of Savoy commissioned from him a casket decorated with plaques similar to this for Archduchess Isabella on the occasion of her marriage.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1560-1570 (Renaissance)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Stone
plaques
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
10.3
height
13.3
dimensionsRaw
H: 4 1/16 x W: 5 1/4 in. (10.3 x 13.3 cm)
Source extras
RelatedObjects
21338
med
rock crystal, enameled gold
creator_ids
4109
collection_ids
REN
exhibition_ids
1994
2617
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
5ad20ec5b2639f05