Hercules and Antaeus
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 25 x 17.1 cm (9 13/16 x 6 3/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.2904
Art Historical Context
This engraving captures the dramatic mythological struggle between Hercules and Antaeus, a popular subject in Renaissance art. According to ancient legends, the giant Antaeus drew his strength from contact with the earth, forcing to lift him into the and crush him. Created by Giovanni Antonio da Brescia after a design by Andrea Mantegna, the print dates to after 1507 and reflects the period’s deep fascination with classical stories and heroic themes. Mantegna, a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance, was renowned for his precise draftsmanship and interest in antiquity. By translating his ...