Terms and conditions of use
Hercules led by Knowledge to immortality
(c. 1726)
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1970
- Gallery location
- Not on display
About this work
‘Glorifications’ such as this one were popular subjects for ceiling paintings in the eighteenth century. At centre left, a lion’s skin drapes over the head of Hercules, who is holding a club; he is accompanied by Fame blowing her trumpet and by Wisdom holding a flaming torch. Wisdom points towards Jupiter, who raises the crown he will bestow upon Hercules; to the right of Jupiter sits Juno, accompanied by her peacock. Below the Olympian pair appears Father Time with his scythe and Mars (seen from the back), dressed in Roman armour. At the top left are Venus and Cupid, with Mercury above them.
Artwork Details
Felton Bequest, 1970
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited