Skip to Main Content

The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion

1548
(German, 1500–1550)
Germany, 16th century
engraving
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection 1950.469
Catalogue raisonné: Pauli 107.99 ; Bartsch VIII.158.106
Location: not on view
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Description

Hercules uses his bare hands to strangle the lion that terrorized the people of Nemea. The beast was invulnerable to his weapons, which Hercules propped against the nearby tree. In art, Hercules often appears wearing the pelt of the Nemean lion, an identifying symbol that recalls this legend and that characterizes the hero’s strength and fearlessness. Beham was one of several German printmakers referred to today as the “Little Masters.” They established their artistic prowess by engraving remarkably small prints, appealing to collectors fascinated with miniature objects and curiosities.
The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion

The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion

1548

Hans Sebald Beham

(German, 1500–1550)
Germany, 16th century

See Also

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.