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Notes
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The story of the death of Hercules begins when Hercules and his wife, Deianeira, crossed a river. Hercules swam across leaving Deianeira in the hands of the centaur Nessus. Nessus tried to rape Deianeira so Hercules killed him with an arrow poisoned by the blood of the Hydra. The dying Nessus tricked Deianeira by telling her of a love potion which could be made from his blood. Later Hercules took a mistress so Deianeira made a shirt for Hercules and stained it with Nessus's blood in order to win back his love. Hercules wore the shirt only to be struck down with pain. He resorted to his death building a funeral pyre on Mount Oeta. He lay on the pyre on a lion skin cloak and asked his friend Philoctetes to light the pyre. This painting was attributed to Deshays on the basis of a drawing of very similar composition with the inscription 'Deschais, Roma 1762.
Title
Death of Hercules
Date
c.1762
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 66.1 x W 50.9 cm
Accession number
OP40
Acquisition method
bequeathed by Sir John Williams, 1926
Work type
Painting
