Mythology & Putti
Mythology & Putti
AFTER RAPHAEL (URBINO 1483-ROME 1520)
Hercules and the Hydra
c.1853-76Albumen print | 38.0 x 26.7 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851694
A photograph of a drawing by Raphael (c.1508) now in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle (RCIN 912758 r).
This drawing depicts two of the Labours of Hecules: on the recto the hero is showed standing while he raises his right arm to Hydra, on the verso Hercules is bending to the left fighting with the lion. A photograph of the verso at RCIN 851693. This is one of a group of large and vigorous figure drawings by Raphael which can be dated from the end of his Florentine period (c.1508).
The existence of other drawings by Raphael depicting Hercules (a study of Hercules and the Centaur in the British Museum; a similar subject in the Ashmolean Museum and also a sketch of Hercules and Cerberus in the Ashmolean) suggests that they were executed for a final composition, although their purpose remains unknown.
This drawing depicts two of the Labours of Hecules: on the recto the hero is showed standing while he raises his right arm to Hydra, on the verso Hercules is bending to the left fighting with the lion. A photograph of the verso at RCIN 851693. This is one of a group of large and vigorous figure drawings by Raphael which can be dated from the end of his Florentine period (c.1508).
The existence of other drawings by Raphael depicting Hercules (a study of Hercules and the Centaur in the British Museum; a similar subject in the Ashmolean Museum and also a sketch of Hercules and Cerberus in the Ashmolean) suggests that they were executed for a final composition, although their purpose remains unknown.
Creator(s)
After Raphael (Urbino 1483-Rome 1520) (artist)
38.0 x 26.7 cm (sheet of paper)
- Acquired for the Prince Consort's Raphael Collection (c.1853-76)
Subject(s)
- Language, Linguistics and Literature
- Literature
- Fiction
- Tales & legends
- Myths
- Tales & legends
- Fiction
- Literature
- Religion & Theology
- Religions and faiths
- Religions of antiquity
- Classical mythology
- Hercules
- Classical mythology
- Religions of antiquity
- Religions and faiths
- Natural Sciences & Mathematics
- Zoology
- Animals
- Mythical creatures
- Hydras (Mythical creatures)
- Mythical creatures
- Animals
- Zoology
- Language, Linguistics and Literature
Bibliographic reference(s)
p.179, no.189r (Joannides 1983 : Joannides, P., 1983. The Drawings of Raphael, with a complete catalogue, Oxford)
pp.62-5, no.14r (Clayton 1999 : Clayton, M. Raphael and his Circle. Drawings from Windsor Castle, London)
no. 791 (P&W : Popham, A.E. & Wilde, J., 1949. The Italian Drawings of the XV and XVI Centuries in the Collection of His Majesty The King at Windsor Castle, London)
