Lombard School, early 18th Century
Hercules and Antaeus,
detached fresco, tempera and watercolour on canvas laid down on a transparent plastic support, 315 x 150 cm, unframed
Provenance:
Villa Respini, Locarno;
Private collection, Switzerland
The present fresco depicts two monochrome figures presented as a sculpted group on a pedestal. The subject represents Hercules, with his classical attributes of a club and lion skin, wrestling against Antaeus, the son of Gaia, the personification of Mother Earth, and Poseidon, god of the sea.
The episode is taken from Greek mythology: Antaeus, the King of Libya, challenged strangers to wrestling matches, the result of which was already certain. The giant drew his invincibility from the simple contact with the Mother Earth, which restored his strength and energy. Hercules, on his way back from the garden of the Hesperides, met Antaeus who challenged him. Hercules eventually overcame the test by realising that Gaia was the source of the giant’s strength, so the hero lifted Antaeus from the ground until all his power had drained away, holding him in a lethal grip.
Specialist: Mark MacDonnell
Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403
old.masters@dorotheum.com
30.03.2021 - 10:35
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 20,000.-
- Estimate:
-
EUR 20,000.- to EUR 30,000.-
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 20,000.-
Lombard School, early 18th Century
Hercules and Antaeus,
detached fresco, tempera and watercolour on canvas laid down on a transparent plastic support, 315 x 150 cm, unframed
Provenance:
Villa Respini, Locarno;
Private collection, Switzerland
The present fresco depicts two monochrome figures presented as a sculpted group on a pedestal. The subject represents Hercules, with his classical attributes of a club and lion skin, wrestling against Antaeus, the son of Gaia, the personification of Mother Earth, and Poseidon, god of the sea.
The episode is taken from Greek mythology: Antaeus, the King of Libya, challenged strangers to wrestling matches, the result of which was already certain. The giant drew his invincibility from the simple contact with the Mother Earth, which restored his strength and energy. Hercules, on his way back from the garden of the Hesperides, met Antaeus who challenged him. Hercules eventually overcame the test by realising that Gaia was the source of the giant’s strength, so the hero lifted Antaeus from the ground until all his power had drained away, holding him in a lethal grip.
Specialist: Mark MacDonnell
Mark MacDonnell
+43 1 515 60 403
old.masters@dorotheum.com
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| Auction: | Old Master Paintings |
| Auction type: | Online auction |
| Date: | 30.03.2021 - 10:35 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | Online |
** Purchase price excl. buyer's premium and VAT
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