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| Keywords: Giambologna - Hercules and the Dragon Ladon - Walters 54695.jpg The mythical Greek hero Heracles known to the Romans as Hercules was renowned for his great strength and the heroic deeds he performed which were favorite subjects for painters and sculptors alike Around 1580 Jean Boulogne Flemish 1529-1608 know as Giambologna produced for Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici 1541-87 of Tuscany a set of bronze statuettes of the Twelve Labors of Hercules deeds which King Eurystheus ordered him to carry out assuming them to be impossible These groups are characterized by highly dramatic poses with the limbs of the figures spiraling outwards from center The smooth surface of the bronze enhances the muscles of Hercules's imposing physique These figures were extremely popular all over Europe and were replicated in great numbers beginning in the artist's lifetime and continuing for decades Individual casts are difficult to date but the bronzes exhibited here were surely made after the master's death However they preserve the character of Giambologna's originals and illustrate the refined taste of the Medici court towards the end of the 16th century The subject of this unusual and rare statuette is the killing of the dragon Ladon which guarded the garden of the Hesperides the nymphs who grew golden apples Since stealing apples from a tree the 11th Labor of Hercules is not as dramatic as a fight with a dragon this other part of the story was chosen by the artist Cast 17th century bronze cm 28 8 41 8 accession number 54 695 6185 J + S Goldschmidt Frankfurt together with Walters 54 694 part of a set of six the other four in Salomon Collection until 1923 then dispersed Henry Walters Baltimore February 1926 mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters 1926 Giambologna 1529-1608 Sculptor to the Medici Royal Scottish Academy of Painting Edinburgh; Victoria and Albert Museum London; Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna 1978-1979 Highlights from the Collection The Walters Art Gallery Baltimore 1998-2001 place of origin Florence Italy Walters Art Museum license Renaissance sculpture in the Walters Art Museum Giambologna Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review | ||||
