Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones

Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones

Title

Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15] [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 48, No. 716]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]
[Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 48, No. 717]

Hercules stands on the left side of the painting wearing a fur robe, in his right hand he holds the club with which he struck down the three-headed Geryone. Geryone lies at Hercules' feet wearing bronze or golden armour and a crown on each head. Geryone's herd of cattle is

Hercules stands on the left side of the painting wearing a fur robe, in his right hand he holds the club with which he struck down the three-headed Geryone. Geryone lies at Hercules' feet wearing bronze or golden armour and a crown on each head. Geryone's herd of cattle is visible the middle-distance and beyond there is a long valley flanked by rocky cliffs.

The panel is part of the series '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: 109.3 x 98.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 109.3 x 98.5 cm

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 48, No. 717]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels
  • top left: 'STERNIT GERYONEN BOBVSQVE POTITVR IBERIS.'

[cda 2013] Verso on the cradle:

Bottom area stamped on the cradle:
'Herzog …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top left:
  • 'STERNIT GERYONEN BOBVSQVE POTITVR IBERIS.'

  • [cda 2013]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Verso on the cradle:

  • Bottom area stamped on the cradle:

  • 'Herzog Anton Ulrich

  • Museum

  • 717'

  • Top right area: Printed paper with handwritten information:

  • 'Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum

  • Braunschweig 1986

  • Inv. Nr. 717

  • Künstler Cranach d. Ä.

  • Titel Rinder

  • Maße 104.3 x 98.5 cm'

Owner
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Repository
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Location
Braunschweig
CDA ID
DE_HAUMB_GG717
FR (1978) Nr.
FR408A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG717/

Provenance

  • 1917 legacy of Frau Justizrat Hollandt

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]

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
Cat. Braunschweig 1976 15 717
AuthorSabine Jacob, Rüdiger Klessmann
TitleVerzeichnis der Gemälde vor 1800. Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1976
Cat. Braunschweig 1969 48 717
Authorn. a.
TitleHerzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig. Verzeichnis der Gemälde
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1969
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
  • Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones, after 1537

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • reverse
  • 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

- delicate, fine lines as well as thin to broader lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form; small changes (proper right arm)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder, 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>, 'Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG717/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Hercules and the Cattle of Geryones', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG717/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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