Hercules and Antaeus

The Pollaiuolo brothers, Antonio and Piero, were influential Italian artists of the 15th century. Antonio, in particular, was known for his mastery of line and anatomical study, evident in works like the bronze statuette Hercules and Antaeus (c. 1475).1

This sculpture depicts a scene from Greek mythology where the giant Antaeus, son of Poseidon and Gaea, wrestled all strangers. Antaeus's strength was renewed whenever he touched the Earth. Hercules discovered this secret and defeated Antaeus by lifting him off the ground and crushing him. The Hercules and Antaeus statuette is noted for its forceful depiction of the struggle, with angular contours and jagged voids expressing tension and strain.234