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Hercules and Iolaus with the Hydra Alessandro Algardi (after)

Artist

Alessandro Algardi (after) Bologna 1598 – 1654 Rome

Culture Italian
Date mid-17th century
Object type sculpture
Medium, technique bronze with dark patina
Dimensions

32 × 25 × 24 cm
base: 10 × 16 × 20 cm

Inventory number 5358
Collection Sculptures
On view Museum of Fine Arts, First Floor, European Art 1600–1700 and British Painting 1600–1800, Gallery V

This dynamic Baroque bronze statuette depicts the battle of Hercules and his helper, Iolaos, with the Hydra of Lerna. Algardi, the most sought-after sculptor of the first half of the 17th century next to Bernini, first came across the subject when he restored the Hercules statue of the Roman Verospi collection. Inspired by this antique marble, he created two variations on this theme: one, which follows the original more closely, repeating the position of the heads (The Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford/USA); the other being a freer, more harmonic composition, which fits into the artist’s oeuvre better, represented by this statue from the Ferenczy-collection.

References

Petrovics, Elek – Meller, Simon, Ferenczy István bronzgyűjteményének kiállítása, Országos Magyar Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1917, p. 14.

Balogh, Jolán, Katalog der ausländischen Bildwerke des Museums der bildenden Künste in Budapest, IV – XVIII. Jahrhundert: 1. Textband Bd. 1, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1975, p. 183-184., no. 249.

Szmodisné Eszláry, Éva, A Régi Szoborgyűjtemény kincsei, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1994, p. 61, ill. 52.

Szmodisné Eszláry, Éva, The treasures of the Old Sculpture collection, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 1994, p. 61.

The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest: guide, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, 2006, p. 142, no. 187.

Szépművészeti Múzeum: Remekművek az ókortól napjainkig. 100 év, Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, 2006, no. 79.

Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest: Masterpieces from the Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, 2006, no. 79.

This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.

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