Hercules Nessus and Deianira 1622 Mythological Print after Antonio Tempesta

Description

Hercules Nessus engraving from 1622 Antonio Tempesta

This Hercules Nessus engraving depicts the centaur carrying Deianira across a river while Hercules draws his bow from the bank on the left. The scene combines a dramatic mythological subject with a detailed landscape of trees, rocks and flowing water.

The composition follows a model by Antonio Tempesta (1555–1630). The centaur’s outstretched legs, Deianira’s raised arm and the curved folds of her floating veil create a strong sense of movement. Hercules appears farther away, directing his arrow towards the central figures.

This is a separately engraved version after Tempesta’s composition. The engraver responsible for this particular version has not been identified.

The sheet comes from a French illustrated edition of Ovid’s Metamorphoses published in Paris by the widow M. Guillemot, S. Thiboust and Mathieu Guillemot. The source volume, held by the seller, has an engraved title page dated 1622.

The lower caption reads “Hercule” and “Nesse”. French letterpress text on the reverse recounts part of Hercules’ struggle with Achelous. This printed reverse preserves the connection between the illustration and the literary work from which the sheet originates.

Date: 1622.
Subject: Hercules, Nessus and Deianira.
Medium: intaglio engraving on paper.
Sheet dimensions: 16.3 × 13.2 cm.
Engraving dimensions: 13.6 × 11.1 cm.
Reverse: printed text in old French.

This Hercules Nessus engraving will appeal to collectors of seventeenth-century prints, classical mythology and illustrated editions of Ovid.