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Hercules and one of Diomedes' Stallions
View through Harvard Museums
This tapestry is the third panel in a famous set of five tapestries dedicated to the Deeds of Hercules. It shows Hercules battling Diomedes' Stallions against a background of large green foliage (called "cabbage-leaf/feuilles de choux") interspersed with small animals and vines. This ornamental background becomes fully integrated with the figurative scene, creating a powerful decorative effect. The tapestry was cut down substantially at the top, leaving only a small part of scrollwork visible. The sides and bottom show a larger portion of scroll work and vegetal ornament. Comparison with another version of the same tapestry in the Louvre shows that the original border contained subsidiary scenes with a depiction of Music on the top and David Presented to King Saul (I Samuel 16:21) on the bottom.
Department of Paintings Sculpture & Decorative Arts
Augustus Hemenway gift; to Fogg Art Museum 1928
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum Gift of Augustus Hemenway
Title: Hercules and one of Diomedes' Stallions
Description:
This tapestry is the third panel in a famous set of five tapestries dedicated to the Deeds of Hercules.
It shows Hercules battling Diomedes' Stallions against a background of large green foliage (called "cabbage-leaf/feuilles de choux") interspersed with small animals and vines.
This ornamental background becomes fully integrated with the figurative scene, creating a powerful decorative effect.
The tapestry was cut down substantially at the top, leaving only a small part of scrollwork visible.
The sides and bottom show a larger portion of scroll work and vegetal ornament.
Comparison with another version of the same tapestry in the Louvre shows that the original border contained subsidiary scenes with a depiction of Music on the top and David Presented to King Saul (I Samuel 16:21) on the bottom.
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