Hercules Killing the Hydra
Maker
(Artists)
1577-1640
1577-1640
Title
Hercules Killing the Hydra
Date of Production
(circa) 1639
Medium
oil on panel
Dimensions
Height: 23.1 cm (panel)
Width: 12.1 cm (panel)
Width: 12.1 cm (panel)
Accession Number
P.1978.PG.382
Mode of Acquisition
Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
On display
Keywords
Label Text
In 1636, King Philip IV of Spain asked Rubens to design the decoration of his new hunting lodge outside Madrid, the Torre de la Parada. These lively sketches, representing mythological scenes, are two of 50 preparatory studies made for this commission. One shows Atlas, condemned by the gods to hold the sky on his shoulders for trying to overthrow them. The other depicts the Greek warrior Hercules killing the hydra, a water monster with many heads.
Provenance
Princes Gate Bequest 1978
Exhibition History
Peter Paul Rubens - A Touch of Brilliance, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 20/09/2003-08/02/2004
Rubens - Paintings, Drawings and Prints in the Princes Gate
Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 06/10/1988-08/01/1989
Rubens - Paintings, Drawings and Prints in the Princes Gate
Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 06/10/1988-08/01/1989
Literature
Peter Paul Rubens - A Touch of Brilliance, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 2003-2004
cat. no. 58
Fig. p. pl. 58
Rubens - Paintings, Drawings and Prints in the Princes Gate Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1988-1989
cat. no. 20
no. 20 and pp. 2, 16, 17 under no. 21, 19
Fig. p. p. 17
cat. no. 58
Fig. p. pl. 58
Rubens - Paintings, Drawings and Prints in the Princes Gate Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1988-1989
cat. no. 20
no. 20 and pp. 2, 16, 17 under no. 21, 19
Fig. p. p. 17
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