Beschreibung:

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) Hercules conquering the Molionide Twins (Bartsch 127; Meder, Hollstein 238; Schoch, Mende and Scherbaum 105) Woodcut, circa 1496, on laid paper with watermark Crest of Augsburg (M.177; Briquet 2118), a strong richly inked impression of Meder IIa, with wide margins on all sides, with horizontal central fold, with a tear in the upper margin, other minor defects, otherwise in good condition Block 390 x 283mm. (15 3/8 x 11 1/8in.); Sheet 446 x 327mm. (17 1/2 x 12 7/8in.) (unframed) Fußnoten Durer produced several large woodcuts with predominantly biblical subjects, but only one with a mythological theme. He excelled at allegorical representations, keen to provide intellectual, as well as visual, stimulation. The subject matter here has resulted in much discussion and scholars generally agree that it represents Hercules slaying the conjoined twins Eurytus and Kteatus. Their combined strength was a match for all opponents, before Hercules defeated them and the scene shows their mother discovering their bodies, accompanied by a Fury who echoes her grief. The woodcut was executed in 1496 after Durer's first trip to Italy and shows the influence of the Italian artists he studied, with their attention to the articulation of the body. The depiction of Hercules is reminiscent of the male figure in a Pollaiuolo abduction scene, whilst the Fury is derived from Mantegna's Battle of the Sea Gods.