Hercules and Antaeus

In order to kill the giant Antaeus who draws his strength from the contact to his mother, the Earth, Hercules has to lift him and strangle him in the air. The lamenting goddess Gea rises from the ground. The pronounced chiaroscuro and the excited movements of the bodies emphasize the dramatic effect. Themes from Hercules’ labours were frequently represented in the residences of the European aristocracy, especially after the Siege of Vienna by the Turks in 1683. The architectonical scenery and the dimensions of the canvas suggest a representative setting of the painting.