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The Labors of Hercules: Hercules Dragging Cerberus from the Underworld
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Hercules descended into Hades, the underworld, to bring back Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the entrance. Pluto, god of the underworld, agreed to let Hercules take Cerberus as long as he used no weapons. In this version of the scene, Hercules has abanded his club and shield in favor of three leashes to drag Cerberus from the inferno. Beham was one of several German printmakers referred to today as the “Little Masters.” They established their artistic prowess by engraving remarkably small prints, appealing to collectors fascinated with miniature objects and curiosities.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineThe Labors of Hercules: Hercules Dragging Cerberus from the Underworld, 1545. Hans Sebald Beham (German, 1500–1550). Engraving. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Williams Collection, 1950.461
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