Rijksmuseum

Hercules Fighting the Nemean Lion

Date

after 1507

Medium

paper

Culture

Italy

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Slaying the Nemean lion was the first of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. It was a favourite subject among artists, representing the victory of human virtue over bestial lust. The engraver used a now-lost drawing by Mantegna for this print. He rendered light and shade with parallel lines, creating the illusion of a depiction of an ancient marble sculpture.

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