03/05/2024
"Hercules and the Centaur Nessus" is a marble statue by the Flemish-Italian artist Giambologna. It was made between 1595 and 1599. Giambologna worked in the Mannerism, or Late Renaissance, art style popular in Italy during the mid to late sixteenth century.
This sculpture was commissioned in 1594 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Grand Duke Ferdinand I, born Ferdinando De' Medici. It was initially placed on a pedestal at the crossroads of Canto dei Carnesecchi in Florence, Italy. It remained there until 1842, when it was moved to its current location.
In Greek mythology, Nessus's father, Centauros, was killed by Hercules. In revenge for his father's death, Nessus attempted to kidnap Hercules's wife. He was caught in the act and killed, the scene depicted here. As tragedy would have it, Nessus had tainted blood, which was used to poison and kill Hercules just several years later.
Giambologna was following the grand footsteps laid down by Michelangelo a century earlier. Notice the contrast in Hercules' facial expressions with those of the wild centaur, who has already been struck down but has not yet been defeated. This is thought to have been inspired by the famous sculpture by Baccio Bandinelli titled "Hercules and Cacus." Giambologna tried to create a more dynamic version of the epic ending of the fight between Hercules and the Centaur Nessus.
"Hercules and the Centaur Nessus" is displayed at the Loggia dei Lanzi in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy.
