Hercules abducts Diomedes' horses
Etienne Delaune French
Not on view
Engraving, part of a set of 12 mythological scenes, created by Etienne Delaune in Strasbourg in 1573. Each scene is presented inside an oval frame made up of two thin ovals, which contains an inscription for the scene. On the first plane of this engraving, Diomedeslies dead, while, on the second plane, Hercules holds his horses from the bridle. Hercules has now replaced corpses previously present in the hay racks with hay. Assuming a civilizing role, Hercules is presented as a virtuous hero, who has defeated Orcus and Venus. His virtue, indifferent to the vice represented by Venus (luxury, in particular), despises luxury and laziness, and transcends death.
