The Labors of Hercules: Hercules and Nessus
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection
Accession Number
1946.396
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
Hercules and his wife Deianeira came to a river where the centaur Nessus offered to carry Deianeira across the water. While crossing, Nessus sexually assaulted her, and Hercules slayed the centaur with a poisoned arrow. Before he died, Nessus deceitfully told Deianeira to collect his blood—now tainted by the toxic arrow—to use as a love potion on Hercules. Beham was one of several German printmakers referred to today as the “Little Masters.” They established their artistic prowess by engraving ...