The Labors of Hercules: Hercules on his Pyre
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection
Accession Number
1950.470
Tags
male
About this artwork
Driven insane by the shirt soaked in poisonous blood, Hercules builds a funeral pyre to cremate himself alive. He enlists a passing shepherd to light the pyre; Hercules rewards the shepherd with the gift of his weapons. Beham was one of several German printmakers referred to today as the “Little Masters.” They established their artistic prowess by engraving remarkably small prints, appealing to collectors fascinated with miniature objects and curiosities.