Hercules with Omphale

Hercules with Omphale

Title

Hercules with Omphale

[CDA 2011]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

The painting illustrates an episode from the story of Hercules in which he is remanded to three years slavery at the court of Omphale for killing his friend Iphitus in a struggle for power. Hercules is surrounded by Omphale's servants, who have placed a white cloth on his head like

The painting illustrates an episode from the story of Hercules in which he is remanded to three years slavery at the court of Omphale for killing his friend Iphitus in a struggle for power. Hercules is surrounded by Omphale's servants, who have placed a white cloth on his head like a bonnet and have given him a spinning wheel. In the background two partridges hang on the wall as a symbol of lust. They allude to Hercules' affair with Omphale.

[Herrschaft, cda 2015]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Dessau 1877, 4, 30, No. 676]

Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Dessau 1913, 108, No. 676]

Production dates
about 1600 or later
about 1537

Production dates

about 1600 or later

[Heydenreich, cda 2012]

about 1537

[Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 34.8 x 48.6 x 0.7 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 34.8 x 48.6 x 0.7 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 48.4 x 61.3 x 5.4 cm

  • [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: - in the centre:
remains of a paper label (annotation illegible)

  • top and bottom left:
    white …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: - in the centre:

  • remains of a paper label (annotation illegible)

    • top and bottom left:

  • white chalk, numbers '(...178. (?) / 70. )'

    • bottom right:

  • remains of a red seal (inscription not legible)

  • Reverse of the frame:

    • bottom, centre:

  • gold on a black background, cardboard label with the no. '676'

    • top, right:

  • blue-black pen, annotation not legible

  • partially covered by a strip of paper below 'A. St. 676 (?)'

  • [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Owner
Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau
Repository
Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau
Location
Dessau
CDA ID
DE_AGGD_437
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_437/

Provenance

  • Amalienstiftung No. 676
    [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 59 Plate 19
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Cat. Dessau 1913 108 No. 676
AuthorJulius Vogel
TitleKatalog der Gemälde-Sammlung der Fürstlichen Amalienstiftung zu Dessau
Place of PublicationDessau
Year of Publication1913
Show Literature
Cat. Dessau 1877 4, 30 No. 676
Authorn. a.
TitleCatalog der Gemälde-Sammlung der Fürstlichen Amalienstiftung zu Dessau
Place of PublicationDessau
Year of Publication1877
Link https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=gri.ark:/13960/t2x39dq5z&view=1up&seq=1
Show Literature
  • Hercules with Omphale, about 1600 or later

Images

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Technical studies

04. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry medium (dark chalk?)

Type/Ductus:

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the essential features within forms; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop

Comments:

- possibly transferred from a pre-existing design

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Hercules with Omphale', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_437/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Hercules with Omphale', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_437/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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