Hercules, Deianeira and the Centaur Nessus
around 1580/85, Artist: Bartholomäus Spranger
Hercules, Deianeira and the Centaur Nessus
The picture is part of a mythological cycle with love stories by Homer and Ovid on which Spranger had been working since the 1580’s as part of the decoration of the imperial rooms in Prague Castle. The Centaur Nessus has abducted Deianeira, the wife of Hercules. Hercules frees Deianeira by killing the centaur with an arrow. The complicated composition is evidence of Spranger’s profound knowledge of Giambologna’s sculptures.
Object data
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Netherlandish
Dated
around 1580/85
Artist
Bartholomäus Spranger (1546 Antwerpen - 1611 Prag) - GND
Material
Canvas
Dimensions
112 cm × 82 cm
Framed: 125 cm × 96 cm × 8,5 cm
Image rights
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie
Inv. No.
Gemäldegalerie, 2613
Provenance
From the treasury of Rudolf II.
Permalink (citable Link) to this page: www.khm.at/en/object/1814/
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