Hercules wearing a lion skin and fighting Achelous, a landscape in the background, after Reni
ca. 1713–72
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 12 1/4 × 9 9/16 in. (31.1 × 24.3 cm) Plate: 10 3/16 × 7 7/16 in. (25.8 × 18.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.500.850
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking engraving captures a dramatic moment from classical mythology: the hero Hercules, clad in the skin of the Nemean, locked in fierce combat with Achelous, shape-shifting river god. the background, a sweeping landscape adds depth and grandeur, evoking the epic struggles of ancient lore. The composition is a faithful reproduction of a painting by the renowned Baroque master Guido Reni (157–1642), whose elegant, classical style blended dynamic movement with idealized figures, making mythological scenes accessible and awe-inspiring. Created around 1713–72 by engravers Robert Hecquet a...
About the Artist
Guido Reni|Robert Hecquet|Benoît Audran II · 1575–1642
Guido Reni (1575–1642) was one of the most celebrated Italian painters of the Baroque era and the dominant figure of the Bolognese School. Born into a family of musicians in Bologna, he trained first with Denys Calvaert before joining the influential Accademia degli Incamminati led by Ludovico Carracci. Reni achieved international fame through his idealizing style that combined Baroque dynamism wi...