Sculpture, Ercole e Lica - 25 cm - Alabaster

Ercole is a famous hero of Greek mythology, remembered in history for his legendary strength. One day he is traveling with his wife Deianira to reach Ceice, a mutual friend. Along the way they must cross a river. Here they meet Nessus, a centaur (a mythical creature with the body of a horse and the torso of a man) who offers to accompany the woman. Nessus falls in love with Deianira and tries to abduct her, but Hercules prevents him. Nessus, before dying, gives the woman a few drops of his blood, telling her that she can use it to prepare a potion that will make Hercules fall in love with her forever (in reality it is a trap and it is a deadly poison).

Later Hercules falls in love with Iole and when Deianira learns this, she decides to prepare the potion with the centaur’s blood. Once ready, she pours it on a cloak of Hercules and asks Lica, their faithful servant, to bring it to her husband.

Hercules wears it and thus the poison reaches his skin, making it burn and driving him crazy with pain. Unable to control himself, he grabs Lica and hurls him far away, causing him to fall into the sea, where he turns into a rock.

When Deianira discovers that Nessus’s blood was actually poison, the pain is unbearable and she dies. Hercules, in an attempt to escape the torture, throws himself into the flames, but is saved by the goddess Athena who carries him to Olympus, where he becomes immortal.

The sculpture represents the Greek hero Hercules, who, in a moment of madness caused by pain, is about to fling away the servant Lica, who had unknowingly brought him a poisoned tunic. Hercules will become immortal.
Hercules is depicted at the moment of maximum power, sculpted as he takes Lica by the foot, ready to throw him.
A sculpture in alabaster, which, by combining dramatic physical tension with perfect formal balance, together with the right dimensions, makes this piece a timeless enchanting masterpiece of masterful craftsmanship. He is not afraid to stay alone there, at an entrance, on a bookshelf, in an Ancient or modern setting, the myth of Hercules remains forever immortal.

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