Louis XIII as Hercules

Abraham Bosse

Associated Names
Abraham Bosse

Artist, French, 1602 - 1676

The image shows a man standing in a confident pose with one hand on his hip and the other resting on a club perched on his shoulder. The man's facial expression is serious, and he has long, curly hair that falls around his shoulders. He is dressed in a Roman-style short tunic with a lion's pelt draped over his shoulder, secured around his torso. To his left, there is a lion laying down, facing forward, and a rooster standing beside it. The foreground includes a book and some armor pieces lying on the ground. The background depicts a battle scene with soldiers on horseback and foot engaged in combat, with smoky chaos visible in the distance. Classical depictions of chariots riding on clouds are seen in the sky. The scene is surrounded by an ornate frame with decorative elements including foliage on the sides.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving and etching

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Accession Number

    1974.120.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Le Blanc, no. 677


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1984

  • Graphic Survey Show, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., February 1984.

Bibliography

1854

  • Le Blanc, Charles. _Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations, dans lequel sont decrites les estampes rares, precieuses et interessantes avec l'indication de leurs differents etats et des prix auxquels

Wikidata ID

Q65564211

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