DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7897#0047
( 29 )
PLATE XI.
One of the labours imposed on Hercules by Eurystheus, was to gather the
golden apples of the Hesperides. The tree that produced this marvellous fruit,
had been presented by the Earth to Juno (i) on her marriage, and was care-
fully guarded by a dragon in the garden of the gods near Mount Atlas.
Ignorant of its situation, Hercules wandered a long time in search of this
garden; at length enquiring of the nymphs of the Eridanus, he learnt from
them that Nereus alone could give him the information he required. They
acquainted him at the same time of the difficulty of the undertaking, that
Nereus when consulted would refuse to disclose the important secret, and
that if force was employed, he would escape by converting himself into
various forms; they added, that the only means of succeeding, would be to
surprise Nereus when asleep, to bind him with chains, and notwithstanding
all the artifices to which he might have recourse, to hold him till he gave
the information required. Provided with these instructions, Hercules pro-
ceeded on the undertaking and was successful.
In a former work (2), the author published a painting representing the
contest between Nereus and Hercules. In the present composition (3), the
artist has chosen another instant of the action : when Hercules having
overcome the resistance of Nereus, has enchained him and is dragging him,
probably, out of the cavern in which he surprised him.
Hercules is represented as usual with the lion's skin and club. Nereus seems
bound with cords, and like other marine deities, terminating in a fish. A.
female figure which precedes, and another which follows, are probably the
nymphs of the Eridanus, who informed Hercules of the residence of Nereus.
This fable is an imitation of the story of Menelaus and Proteus, recorded
by Homer. (4) The divinities of the ocean were supposed to have the power of
predicting events, to possess all sorts of knowledge, and to be able to assume
a variety of forms.
The painting is executed in the rude style of imitation so frequently seen
on Vases, and intended to give them an appearance of remote antiquity.
(1) PherecydesinSchol. Apoll.Rhod. lib. iv. (3) Taken from a vase in the collection of
vers 1396. Apollodorus, lib. 11. cap. 5. M. Durand at Paris. The form of the vase is
(2) Peintures Antiq. Ined. de Vases Grecs. represented underneath.
Borne. i8i3. Pi. 3a. (4) Odyss. A, vers 365.
PLATE XI.
One of the labours imposed on Hercules by Eurystheus, was to gather the
golden apples of the Hesperides. The tree that produced this marvellous fruit,
had been presented by the Earth to Juno (i) on her marriage, and was care-
fully guarded by a dragon in the garden of the gods near Mount Atlas.
Ignorant of its situation, Hercules wandered a long time in search of this
garden; at length enquiring of the nymphs of the Eridanus, he learnt from
them that Nereus alone could give him the information he required. They
acquainted him at the same time of the difficulty of the undertaking, that
Nereus when consulted would refuse to disclose the important secret, and
that if force was employed, he would escape by converting himself into
various forms; they added, that the only means of succeeding, would be to
surprise Nereus when asleep, to bind him with chains, and notwithstanding
all the artifices to which he might have recourse, to hold him till he gave
the information required. Provided with these instructions, Hercules pro-
ceeded on the undertaking and was successful.
In a former work (2), the author published a painting representing the
contest between Nereus and Hercules. In the present composition (3), the
artist has chosen another instant of the action : when Hercules having
overcome the resistance of Nereus, has enchained him and is dragging him,
probably, out of the cavern in which he surprised him.
Hercules is represented as usual with the lion's skin and club. Nereus seems
bound with cords, and like other marine deities, terminating in a fish. A.
female figure which precedes, and another which follows, are probably the
nymphs of the Eridanus, who informed Hercules of the residence of Nereus.
This fable is an imitation of the story of Menelaus and Proteus, recorded
by Homer. (4) The divinities of the ocean were supposed to have the power of
predicting events, to possess all sorts of knowledge, and to be able to assume
a variety of forms.
The painting is executed in the rude style of imitation so frequently seen
on Vases, and intended to give them an appearance of remote antiquity.
(1) PherecydesinSchol. Apoll.Rhod. lib. iv. (3) Taken from a vase in the collection of
vers 1396. Apollodorus, lib. 11. cap. 5. M. Durand at Paris. The form of the vase is
(2) Peintures Antiq. Ined. de Vases Grecs. represented underneath.
Borne. i8i3. Pi. 3a. (4) Odyss. A, vers 365.