Hercules and Antaeus

after 1507

Giovanni Antonio da Brescia, after Andrea Mantegna

Associated Names
Giovanni Antonio da Brescia

Artist, Italian, active c. 1490 - 1525 or after

Andrea Mantegna

Artist After, Paduan, c. 1431 - 1506

This is a drawing of two entwined figures standing on a piece of ground, surrounded by symbolic objects. The artwork depicts two muscular figures, with one figure holding the other aloft, their limbs interlaced. They are positioned near a barren tree, which has a plaque attached to it with Latin inscriptions. At the base of the tree, there is a shield with further inscriptions. The ground is adorned with a club and stylized floral motifs. The drawing employs fine lines to detail the muscles and expressions, giving the figures a sense of dynamic movement and emotion. There is also text running vertically alongside the tree.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 25 x 17.1 cm (9 13/16 x 6 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.2904

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hind 'Engravings', Vol. 5, p.36, no. 3

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2018

  • Sharing Images: Renaissance Prints into Maiolica and Bronze, cat. by Jamie Gabbarelli, NGA, 2018, no.

Bibliography

1938

  • Hind, Arthur M. Early Italian Engraving; a critical catalogue with complete reproductions of all the prints described. 7 vols. London: Bernard Quaritch Ltd., 1938-1948.

1973

  • Levenson, Jay A. et al. _Early Italian Engravings from the National Gallery of Art _. Washington, 1973, no.88.

1992

  • Boorsch, Suzanne, et al. Andrea Mantegna. London and Milan, 1992, no. 87, state ii/ii.

Inscriptions

Lettered UR, in a tablet: "IO AN.BX" and alond the right margin: "DIVO HERCVLI INVICTO"

Watermarks

present but not identified

Wikidata ID

Q64956974

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