Hercules redt Deïanira van Nessus
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
106; 68
About this artwork
height 106 mm x width 68 mm
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate engraving *Hercules redt Deïanira van Ness* (Hercules Rescues Deianira fromus), created by the masterful German artist Heinrich Aldegver in 1550. This yet powerful work, measuring just 106 mm high by 68 mm wide, a dramatic moment from Greek mythology: the hero Hercules intervening as the centaur Nessus attempts abduct his wife Deianira. Aldegrever, a prominent figure among the "Little Masters"—Northern Renaissance engravers renowned for their exquisite detail on miniature scales—brings this tale of heroism and peril to life with fine lines and dynamic composition. Produce...
About the Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561
Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...