Hercules and Antaeus

This oil on canvas, attributed to Juan Bautista del Mazo, depicts the fight between Hercules and Antaeus. It was donated by Valentín Carderera and is a copy of a work by Peter Paul Rubens. It was painted around 1650–67. Hercules was traveling across northern Libya when he encountered the giant Antaeus, who challenged him to a fight to the death. Again and again, Hercules would throw the giant to the ground, but the giant would get back up. As the son of Gaia, goddess of the Earth, Antaeus gained the strength of a god whenever he touched the ground. Hercules noticed this just as he was about to be defeated. Then, when Anteus was in the air, where he was weaker, he broke his neck and killed him. This painting portrays the moment when he is holding the giant up so he cannot touch the ground. The muscle tension of both subjects and the expression on the giant's face lend the scene a great deal of realism. Hercules wears his characteristic lion's skin, while Anteus is covered by a white cloth.