The Choice of Hercules

The Choice of Hercules

Title

The Choice of Hercules

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15] [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 47, No. 712]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]
[Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 47, No. 712]

Hercules sits on a stone block in the centre of the image. He wears a fur robe and has a club, which he has placed on the ground. He extends his hand to 'chastity', who is shown as a woman in civic attire standing on his left. On his right

Hercules sits on a stone block in the centre of the image. He wears a fur robe and has a club, which he has placed on the ground. He extends his hand to 'chastity', who is shown as a woman in civic attire standing on his left. On his right stands the nude figure of 'lust' clothed only in a transparent veil. The scene takes place in a wood, which at one point opens out to reveal an expansive landscape. Behind 'chastity' there is a stag in the wood. The panel is part of a series depicting 'The Labours of Hercules'.

[Görres, cda 2012]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1978, No. 408A]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]

Production date
after 1537

Production date

after 1537

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1978, No. 408A]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 110.1 x 98.1 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 110.1 x 98.1 cm

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 47, No. 712]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the stone: winged serpent

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the stone: winged serpent

Inscriptions and Labels
  • along the top edge: 'SOLLICITAT IVVENEM VIRTVS AC BLANDA VOLVPTAS'

[cda 2013]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • along the top edge:

  • 'SOLLICITAT IVVENEM VIRTVS AC BLANDA VOLVPTAS'

  • [cda 2013]

Owner
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Repository
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Location
Braunschweig
CDA ID
DE_HAUMB_GG712
FR (1978) Nr.
FR408A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG712/

Connected Works

Hercules and the Hydra
  • Hercules and the Hydra, after 1537
  • DE_HAUMB_GG713
  • Painting
  • Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Hercules and the Arcadian Deer
  • Hercules and the Arcadian Deer, after 1537
  • DE_HAUMB_GG714
  • Painting
  • Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Hercules and Atlas
  • Hercules and Atlas, after 1537
  • DE_HAUMB_GG715
  • Painting
  • Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Hercules steals the Apples of the Hesperides
  • Hercules steals the Apples of the Hesperides, after 1537
  • DE_HAUMB_GG716
  • Painting
  • Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones
  • Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones, after 1537
  • DE_HAUMB_GG717
  • Painting
  • Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig

Provenance

  • 1907 donated as a gift by Frau Justizrat Hollandt

[Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 47, No. 712]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1978 408A
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleThe Paintings of Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationNew York
Year of Publication1978
Show Literature
Cat. Braunschweig 1976 15 712
AuthorSabine Jacob, Rüdiger Klessmann
TitleVerzeichnis der Gemälde vor 1800. Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1976
Show Literature
Cat. Braunschweig 1969 47 712
Authorn. a.
TitleHerzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig. Verzeichnis der Gemälde
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1969
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 328A
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
Panofsky 1930 100, Fn. 2
AuthorErwin Panofsky
TitleHerkules am Scheidewege und andere antike Bildstoffe in der neueren Kunst
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1930
Show Literature
  • The Choice of Hercules, after 1537

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

03. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush; in combination with dark chalk?

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing; barely visible

- thin lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours; no representation of volume

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder; or Lucas Cranach the Younger?

Comments:

- the veins are indicated with dark lines

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Choice of Hercules', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG712/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Choice of Hercules', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG712/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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