Hercules Punishing the Perfidy of Laomedon, from the series The Labors of Hercules
Hans Sebald Beham (German, 1500–1550)
Details
Title
Hercules Punishing the Perfidy of Laomedon, from the series The Labors of Hercules
Artist/Maker
Hans Sebald Beham (German, 1500–1550)
Date
1545
Medium
Engraving on paper
Dimensions
Image: 2 1/16 x 3 1/8 inches (5.2 cm x 7.9 cm) Support: 2 7/16 x 3 5/8 inches (6.2 cm x 9.2 cm)
Credit
Purchase
Accession #
65.37
Location
Currently not on view
Hans Sebald Beham is known for making tiny, highly detailed, engravings, which he printed and published himself. This engraving depicts a battle between the Greek hero Hercules and Laomedon, King of Troy, who had reneged on paying for the rescue of his daughter from a sea monster. The image shows Beham’s thorough knowledge of horses, portraying the animal in a variety of dynamic poses and from different angles.