Since the beginning of time, mankind has always yearned for a hero. People would gather around the camp fire and tell adventures about their favorite hero. A hero can be anyone, like a religious figure, a historical figure, a myth, or a legend. One thing they all have in common is their capacity for good and how they will put others ahead of themselves. The best heroes are the ones that have flaws in which we could learn from. This gallery focuses on Heroes in Action.
The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise, Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia), 1445, From the collection of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
When one thinks of a hero, they think of someone who saves the world, but how about the one that created it. This painting of tempera and gold on wood, by Giovanni di Paolo in 1445, illustrates God flying through the sky while surrounded by baby angels as he creates the universe, as well as mankind’s expulsion from paradise.
David and Goliath, Guillaime Courtois, 1650/1660, From the collection of: Musei Capitolini
Legend has it that David took down the giant Goliath with a slingshot. Guillaime Courtois's oil on canvas painting, from the 17th century, depicts the aftermath as the giant lies face down on the ground with blood pouring out of his head due to being struck between the eyes by a rock from David's slingshot. David steps on his back and prepares to swing his sword down to chop off Goliath’s head. Afterwards, he becomes King David, savior and hero of the land.
Zeus, thunderbearer, Unknown, -470/-460, From the collection of: Altes Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Greek god Zeus is the leader of all the Greek gods. Sometime during the Classical period of 470 BC - 460 BC, an unknown artist sculpted Zeus in the form of a bronze statue, set on top of a red block of marble. Zeus is well-defined, his muscles are in motion as he leans forward, ready to throw his thunderbolt. His build and the way he's captured in motion, is similar to the way comic artists draw superheroes today.
Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion, Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1639, From the collection of: Harvard Art Museums
Zeus had many sons, but the most famous was Hercules, who as a demigod had many adventures. In 1639, the artist Peter Paul Rubens painted a depiction of Hercules’s most notable trial, his battle with the Nemean Lion. In this oil painting on cradled panel, with traces of red chalk, is Hercules leaning forward with his arm locked around the lion’s head in a strangle hold. The muscles on his back, arms, and legs expand showing him powerfully pushing forward, holding his ground. It is evident that the lion is not giving up without a fight, and as he gasps for air, all his muscles are flexed in an attempt to push back, but Hercules wins. Hercules will forever wear the lion’s head as a cowl and his skin as a cape. Hercules is also an influence for the modern day superhero, most obviously Superman.
Theseus and the Minotaur (Second Version), Antoine-Louis Barye, modeled: 1843; first cast of second version: 1857, From the collection of: The Walters Art Museum
Theseus was known as the hero of Athens. This bronze with black over green patina on a red marble base sculpture was molded: 1843; first cast of second version: 1857 by Antoine-Louis Barye, and displays Thesueus’s fight with the Minotaur. As the Minotaur is falling back, Thesueus stands proudly holding the Minotaur up, preparing to thrust his sword through the Minotaur’s head. In the aftermath of this battle, Aegeus, king of Athens, commits suicide by jumping off the cliff at Cape Sounion because he believed his son,Theseus, was dead and failed to defeat the Minotaur. Theseus had only failed to raise black flags instead of white flags. Thesueus then returned to shore as the new king of Athens.
(Main View), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Perseus, a hero of Greek mythology, was known for defeating, killing, and cutting off the head of Medusa, a snake-haired woman who turned men into stone simply by the sight of her. This oil on canvas painting by Sebastiano Ricci, from approximately 1705 - 1710, represents the outcome of that event, where Perseus confronts Phineus with the head of Medusa. The battle that had just occurred, left bodies on the floor with Perseus at the center of it all, his sword in his right hand and Medusa’s head in his out-stretched left hand. On the right side of the picture, the men are turning to stone mid-attack.
Achilles Dragging the Body of Hector, Pietro Testa, c. 1648/1650, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
The legendary Spartan warrior, Achilles, was known for being blessed by the gods. To those that it benefited, he was viewed as a hero because it was said that he could single-handedly take on entire armies, yet his ultimate defeat was due to his achilles tendon (the soft tendon above your heel that connects your foot to your leg) being cut. Thus, giving the name to the tendon, as well as the familiar phrase “achilles heel” which refers to an individual’s particular weakness. This 17th century etched print, by Pietro Testa, portrays the battle of Troy after the mighty Achilles defeated Hector, prince of Troy. He stands proudly on his chariot as he drags Hector’s lifeless body away.
As the Trojan War was nearing an end, the Greek knew they had no chance of breaching Troy’s walls, so they staged their defeat and retreated. Instead of the Trojan army finding the Greek army on the battlefield, they found a huge horse made of wood. The Trojan believed that the Greeks offered it up as a gift to Poseidon, the god of the sea, to ensure a safe trip home. The Trojans see it as a symbol of victory, so they roped it up and dragged it into the city. Troy’s seer and priest, Laocoön, swore to Apollo he wouldn't warn the Trojans that the wooden horse was a trap. He decided to take the heroic route and tried to warn them anyway. This bronze replica sculpture, made in the early 18th century by Giovanni Battista Foggini, is a replica of one that was found in 1506. It displays the consequence of defying a god. In Laocoön’s case, sea serpents were sent to attack him and his sons. The agony on Laocoön’s face is quite detailed, along with his contorted body, as he tries to fight off the vicious snakes. The muscle definition is not only perfectly sculpted on him, it is also defined on the serpents as well.
The Miraculous Draft of Fishes, Raphael, c.1515 - c.1516, From the collection of: Royal Collection Trust, UK
Jesus sacrificed his life for the good of mankind, but before that he perform miracles all across the region. This bodycolour over charcoal drawing created by Raphael in 1515 depicts the savior Jesus as he fills the boats with fish. It shows the fisherman scrambling to get as much fish in their boats as the two apostles move and kneel towards Jesus in amazement and praise.
The Life Line, Winslow Homer, 1882–83, From the collection of: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
The modern day firefighter is a true hero because he runs into burning buildings as everyone else is running out. This charcoal, white chalk on cream wove paper, lined drawing by Winslow Homer, in 1883, presents a firefighter attempting to save a young unconscious girl as they zip down in a gurney to safety. The young girl's head is all the way back, her left arm hanging lifeless as the right hand holds onto the rope. All the while, the firefighter is looking forward, determined on his mission.
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