Hercules Killing the Stymphalian Birds is a 1500 tempera on canvas painting by Albrecht Dürer, now kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg.[3]
| Hercules Killing the Stymphalian Birds | |
|---|---|
| Italian: Ercole uccide gli uccelli di Stinfalo | |
 | |
| Artist | Albrecht Dürer[1] |
| Year | 1500[2] |
| Dimensions | 87 cm × 110 cm (34 in × 43 in) |
| Location | Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg |
History
editDürer's only painting of a mythological subject, Hercules Killing the Stymphalian Birds was probably commissioned for Frederick the Wise for a room in the Schloss Wittenberg, which contains other paintings of the Labours of Hercules.
Description and style
editHercules, armed with bow and arrow, is ready to shoot at two winged monsters that appear to his right. He occupies the center of the scene. His composition is probably derived from Italian prints, like Hercules and Deianira by Antonio del Pollaiuolo. Even the landscape in the background follows Italian examples, with its dark palette and brilliant reds representing the deadly swamps of Lake Stymphalia.
The monstrous birds, harpies, probably come from Dante's description of harpies as bizarre hybrid creatures.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Albrecht Dürer (1974). The Complete Drawings of Albrecht Durer: 1500-1509 / Walter L. Strauss. Abaris Books. ISBN 978-0-913870-00-6.
- ^ Wilhelm Reinhold Valentiner (1977). The Art Quarterly. Art Studies Inc.
- ^ Lilian H. Zirpolo (25 October 2007). Historical Dictionary of Renaissance Art. Scarecrow Press. pp. 199–. ISBN 978-0-8108-6424-5.
Bibliography
edit- Costantino Porcu (edited by), Dürer, Rizzoli, Milan 2004.
External links
edit
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