Mythology & Putti
Mythology & Putti
AFTER GIULIO ROMANO (ROME C. 1499-MANTUA 1546)
Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion
after 1550Etching | 24.6 x 18.7 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 851848
An etching reproducing, in reverse, a composition known through a chiaroscuro woodcut by Nicoló Vicentino (see RCINs 851846 and 851847 for it). Lettered at lower right with attribution of the design to Raphael; the letters 'BIN' are annotated in black ink. Another impression of this plate at RCIN 851849.
The authorship of the design is a matter of dispute, with some scholars supporting the traditional attribution to Raphael (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999), and others suggesting that the composition may derive from a drawing by Giulio Romano related to the fresco of the same subject in the Sala dei Cavalli in the Palazzo Te, Mantua, part of a cycle illustrating the ‘Labours of Hercules’ (Raphael Invenit 1985). The decoration of the room was designed by Giulio, and executed by Rinaldo Mantovano and Benedetto Pagni between 1527 and 1528.
A first state impression of the chiaroscuro by Vicentino at RCIN 851846; a second state at RCIN 851847.
The authorship of the design is a matter of dispute, with some scholars supporting the traditional attribution to Raphael (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999), and others suggesting that the composition may derive from a drawing by Giulio Romano related to the fresco of the same subject in the Sala dei Cavalli in the Palazzo Te, Mantua, part of a cycle illustrating the ‘Labours of Hercules’ (Raphael Invenit 1985). The decoration of the room was designed by Giulio, and executed by Rinaldo Mantovano and Benedetto Pagni between 1527 and 1528.
A first state impression of the chiaroscuro by Vicentino at RCIN 851846; a second state at RCIN 851847.
Creator(s)
After Giulio Romano (Rome c. 1499-Mantua 1546) (designer)
24.6 x 18.7 cm (sheet of paper)
- Added to 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
- Language, Linguistics and Literature
Bibliographic reference(s)
p.249, no.VII.6 (Raphael Invenit 1985 : Bernini Pezzini, G. et al., 1985. Raphael Invenit. Stampe di Raffaello nelle Collezioni dell'Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica, Rome)
p.112 (Oberhuber/Gnann 1999 : Roma e lo stile classico di Raffaello, 1515-1527 / a cura di Konrad Oberhuber ; catalogo di Achim Gnann, 1999)
