Hercules at the Crossroad

Albrecht Dürer traveled from Nuremberg, his hometown, to Italy in 1494–95. Evidence suggests that he stopped in Mantua to meet painter Andrea Mantegna, then about 64 years old. The nature of their exchange—if it occurred—is unknown, yet each artist’s engravings profoundly influenced the other. Mantegna’s work introduced Dürer to complex mythological subjects and stories featuring the nude body; Dürer later incorporated one of Mantegna’s nymphs from the print Battle of the Sea Gods into his print Hercules at the Crossroad, shown here.

A vertically oriented engraving in black ink depicts figures in a wooded landscape. At the left, a nude woman with light skin reclines against a bearded satyr with goat legs. Centrally, a draped woman raises a knotted wooden club. To the right, a muscular nude man stands with his back turned, wearing a crown of leaves and holding a staff. A winged child runs at the right. A hilltop castle sits in the background.

Hercules at the Crossroad

c. 1498

Albrecht Dürer

(German, 1471–1528)

Germany, late 15th-early 16th century

Visually Similar by AI

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 fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork

Artwork Page for Hercules at the Crossroad

Details / Information for Hercules at the Crossroad