The Pillars of Hercules, from The Labors of Hercules
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 4 5/16 × 2 3/4 in. (10.9 × 7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Felix M. Warburg and his family, 1941
Accession Number
41.1.122
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Pillars of Hercules*, a captivating engraving from Heinrich Aldegrever's series *The Labors of Hercules*, created in 1550. Aldegrever, a master of the German Renaissance known as one of the "Little Masters" for his exquisite small-scale prints, drew inspiration from classical mythology. This tiny gem, measuring just 4 5/16 × 2 3/4 inches, captures the heroic exploits of Hercules, the legendary strongman whose 12 labors symbolized human triumph over chaos. In this scene, Aldegrever depicts the iconic Pillars of Hercules—massive columns marking the western edge of the known world at...
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...