Hercules and Cerberus, from "Ex Antiquis Cameorum et Gemmae Delineata"
Medium
Engraving; third state
Dimensions
plate: 3 7/16 x 4 7/8 in. (8.8 x 12.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.97.432
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints gallery, where *Hercules and Cerus* captivates with its classical drama. This small engraving (3 7/16 x 4 7/8 in.), the third state from the series *Ex Antiquis Came et Gemmae Deline* ("Drawn from Cameos and Gems"), the mythic hero wrestling the three-headed guard dog of the Underworld—one of Hercules' famed Twelve Labors. Published around 1599–162, it faithfully reproduces an ancient cameo or gem, showcasing Renaissance fascination with Greco-Roman antiquity. Crafted by Italian 16th-century talents including engravers Battista Franc...
About the Artist
Francesco Angeloni|Battista Franco|Philippe Thomassin|Enea Vico|Anonymous, Italian, 16th century (Italian|Italian|French|Italian|Italian) · 1559 |1510 |1562 |1523 |1500 –1652 |1561 |1622 |1567 |1600
Terni 1559 or 1587–1652 Rome|Italian, Venice ca. 1510–1561 Venice|French, Troyes 1562–1622 Rome|Italian, Parma 1523–1567 Ferrara|