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The Choice of Hercules (oil on canvas)

IMAGE number
USB132359
Image title
The Choice of Hercules (oil on canvas)
Artist
Poussin, Nicolas (1594-1665) / French
Location
Stourhead, Wiltshire, UK
Medium
oil on canvas
Date
1636 AD - 1637 AD (C17th AD)
Dimensions
88.3x71.8 cms
Image description

The moral theme of this allegorical picture is derived from the Greek philosopher, Prodicus, a friend of Socrates and Plato, and told in Xenophon’s Memorabilia (circa 430-354 BC). Hercules, young, beardless and crowned with a laurel, leans on his club, at a cross road. The two female figures represent Virtue and Vice. Vice, clad in more revealing orange robes is accompanied by Cupid who offers a posy of flowers up to Hercules. She gestures towards an easy path to a beckoning sunny valley below whilst Virtue, chastely dressed in white, on the other hand, points towards the difficult path, a steep rocky ascent. Hercules looks at Virtue knowing he should choose her path. The presence of the snake on the ground has multiple references. Hercules overcame snakes more than once in his life; it has been an attribute of Minerva, the goddess of Wisdom symbolising prudence; and an evil serpent. Possibly the picture that once belonged to the architect François Blondel (1617–86). Bought by Henry II Hoare at the posthumous sale of the magnificent builder, collector, and patron, the 1st Duke of Chandos, in 1747.

Photo credit
National Trust Photographic Library/Prudence Cuming / Bridgeman Images
Image keywords
allegory / art / mythology / nudity / Poussin Nicolas (1594-1665) / 17th century / France / Europe / painter / artist / female / virtue / decision / vice / male / cross roads / Painting / Mzpainting
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Largest available format 4078 × 5197 px 7 MB
Dimension [pixels] Dimension in 300dpi [mm] File size [MB]
Large 4078 × 5197 px 345 × 440 mm 7.1 MB
Medium 804 × 1024 px 68 × 87 mm 1.3 MB

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