Hercules Freeing Prometheus

François Lespingola, c. 1670

Hercules is here shown freeing the chained Prometheus from an eagle that comes to pick his liver each day anew. Jupiter had imposed this punishment on Prometheus for stealing fire from the gods. Lespingola’s statuette typifies the narrative, dynamic style of the late French Baroque. The lacquered brass stand was added around 1745.

  • Artwork typefigure
  • Object numberBK-2008-93
  • Dimensionsheight 57.7 cm x width 51.8 cm x depth 35.6 cm, height 42 cm, height 9.5 cm x width 35.6 cm x depth 25.4 cm
  • Physical characteristicsbrons, gelakt messing

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Hercules Rescuing Prometheus
    • Hercules Freeing Prometheus

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-2008-93

  • Inscriptions / marks

    mark

Creation

  • Creation

    sculptor: François Lespingola, Paris

  • Dating

    • c. 1670
    • c. 1745 - c. 1749

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    brons, gelakt messing

  • Dimensions

    • height 57.7 cm x width 51.8 cm x depth 35.6 cm
    • height 42 cm
    • height 9.5 cm x width 35.6 cm x depth 25.4 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the BankGiro Lottery

  • Acquisition

    purchase 2008-08-12

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Documentation

  • Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Jaarverslag 2008, afb. p. 57.

Persistent URL

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  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus
  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus
  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus
  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus
  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus
  • Hercules Freeing Prometheus