Hercules and Nessus (after Giambologna or Tacca)
French School
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1800 - 1899
Materials
Bronze
Measurements
800 x 480 x 700 mm
Place of origin
France
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276601.1
Summary
Bronze sculpture, Hercules and Nessus (after Giambologna or Tacca), French School, 19th century. A French bronze group of Hercules and a centaur. It differs from the Giambologna type in that Hercules wears his lion skin and the forelegs of the centaur differ in their rendering of bentness. The original Hercules and Nessus group by Giambologna, of 1599, is in the Loggia dei Lanzi at Florence. Hercules (Heracles) is one of the most important heroes in Greek mythology. He was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, a Theban princess and was regarded as the embodiment of physical strength and courage. His two main attributes are the club and the lion's skin, which he won at his first labour. He had to undertake twelve labours as a penance for slaying his own children in an act of madness. It seems more likely that this is referring to the battle of the centaurs rather than just Nessus who was a centaur and the ferryman across a river where Hercules and Deianiera had come. When he tried to carry Deianiera off Hercules killed him with his bow and arrow, from a distance rather than his club. Whilst dying Nessus told Deianiera to collect his blood as it would one day help her as a love elixir and anyone who would wear a garment rubbed with the blood would love her forever although it turned out to carry poison.
Makers and roles
French School, sculptor after Giambologna (Douai 1529 - Florence 1608), sculptor after Ferdinando Tacca (Florence 1619 - Florence 1686), sculptor Antonio Susini (fl.Florence 1572 – d.Florence 1624), sculptor