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A 19th Century agate cameo of Hercules
The oval banded agate finely carved to depict the bust of young Hercules draped in the skin of the Nemean lion, 19th Century. Dimensions 29mm x 21mm x 5mm Note:...
The oval banded agate finely carved to depict the bust of young Hercules draped in the skin of the Nemean lion, 19th Century. Dimensions 29mm x 21mm x 5mm
Note:
One of the most famous divine heroes from antiquity, this agate cameo depicts the bust in profile of Hercules (Herakles to to the ancient Greeks) with the skin of the Nemean lion he defeated in his first labour around his person, cleverly defined using the natural colours found in the progressive bands within the agate from which it is carved. Rather than representing the older bearded Hercules made famous by the Farnese statue, here it is a youthful Hercules with refined features whose most famous depiction is probably the Landsdowne Herakles now housed in the Getty Villa museum in California.
Note:
One of the most famous divine heroes from antiquity, this agate cameo depicts the bust in profile of Hercules (Herakles to to the ancient Greeks) with the skin of the Nemean lion he defeated in his first labour around his person, cleverly defined using the natural colours found in the progressive bands within the agate from which it is carved. Rather than representing the older bearded Hercules made famous by the Farnese statue, here it is a youthful Hercules with refined features whose most famous depiction is probably the Landsdowne Herakles now housed in the Getty Villa museum in California.
