Hercules Tamed By Love. This mischievous God in his triumphant ways subjects all, kings, shepherds, heroes and gays, Alcide interrupts his dreaded exploits and binds him while Omphale overjoys. (Gallant poetry by Monsieur Sauzet), plate 25 from Histoire Ancienne
Medium
Lithograph in black on white wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 25.2 × 20.8 cm (9 15/16 × 8 1/4 in.); Sheet: 35.7 × 27.3 cm (14 1/16 × 10 3/4 in.)
Classification
lithograph
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86431
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Despite the skepticism artists such as Delacroix felt toward the importance of antiquity to modern painting, Daumier’s prints made ancient lives newly relevant as well as superbly humorous. In December 1841 Charivari announced the artist’s new series: “We have sent Monsieur Daumier to Greece, alone and without any scientific support. He worked day and night to reveal the Greek soul of the past. . . . Daumier brings antiquity back to us.” The three Historie Ancienne (Stories from Antiquity) print...
About the Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879
Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...