Hercules and Antaeus

Hercules and Antaeus

Title

Hercules and Antaeus

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, No. 269]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[cda 2017]
[Klein report, 08.04.2013]

red beech wood

[Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 611-612, no. 523]

oak wood

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, no. 269]
[Hutter 1972, 39]

This painting, one of only two known versions of the subject by Cranach, depicts an episode in the Twelve Labours of Hercules: the fight to the death between Greek hero Hercules and the giant Antaeus, son of Poseidon and Gaia, gods of the Sea and Earth. This adventure occurred on

This painting, one of only two known versions of the subject by Cranach, depicts an episode in the Twelve Labours of Hercules: the fight to the death between Greek hero Hercules and the giant Antaeus, son of Poseidon and Gaia, gods of the Sea and Earth. This adventure occurred on Hercules' journey to complete his eleventh task. Antaeus drew all his strength from the earth (his mother), and was thereby able to defeat all his previous opponents. Hercules realised this and, understanding the secret of the giant's invincibility, lifted him off the ground, crushing him to death. Cranach depicts this very moment here.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, no. 72]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, no. 269]
[Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 611-612, no. 523]
[Hutter 1972, 39]

Production dates
about 1530 - 1535
about 1530

Production dates

about 1530 - 1535

[Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 611-612, No. 523]

about 1530

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, No. 269] [Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, No. 72]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 39 x 26.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 39 x 26.5 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 611-612, No. 523]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the lower left: serpent with elevated wings

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the lower left: serpent with elevated wings

Owner
The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Repository
The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Location
Vienna
CDA ID
AT_AKBILD_GG-1148
FR (1978) Nr.
FR269
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_GG-1148/

Provenance

  • 1892 aquired
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, No. 269]

Exhibitions

Vienna 1972
Basel 1974, no. 523
Hamburg 2003, no. 72

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 75, 180 072 Pl. 72
EditorBucerius Kunst Forum, Werner Schade
TitleLucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne [Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg]
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Foister 2003 117 Fig. 1
AuthorSusan Foister
TitleCranachs Mythologien. Quellen und Originalität
Publicationin Heinz Spielmann, Werner Schade, eds., Lucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne, Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Pages116-129
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 123 No. 269 Fig. 269
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 No. 523
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Vienna 1972 13
AuthorKarl Schütz
EditorKunsthistorisches Museum, Wien
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere und seine Werkstatt. Jubiläumsausstellung museumseigener Werke 1472-1972
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Hutter 1972 39 Fig. 8
AuthorHeribert Hutter
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere in der Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Wien
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 220
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
  • Hercules and Antaeus, about 1530 - 1535

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • uv_light

Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

Identification of wood species: beech wood

[Klein report, 08.04.2013]

  • examined by Peter Klein

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand and economical underdrawing

- thin lines

- occasional hatching strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the main contours and describe essential details and facial features; occasional use of hatching strokes to represent volume

Deviations:

- only minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e. g. position of Hercules‘ left foot)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder or workshop

Comments:

- after a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2020]

  • photographed by Ernst Hammerschmid

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • UV-light photography
  • uv_light
  • photographed by Ernst Hammerschmid

Condition Reports

Date1979

'The painting has been overcleaned.'

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 123, No. 269]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Hercules and Antaeus', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_GG-1148/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Hercules and Antaeus', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_GG-1148/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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