German School, 16th Century

Estimate

2,500 - 3,500 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Hercules skinning the Nemean lion
Pen and black ink and grey and red wash, squared in black chalk; arched top;
bears inscription, lower right: J van eyck and on backing sheet, below: Jan van Eyck, he invented painting in oyle 1410.

Provenance

Purchased in London, circa 1958

Exhibited

Newcastle, 1960, no. 19

Catalogue Note

Another version of this composition is in the Teylers Museum, Haarlem, where it is held as "Attributed to Christoph Amberger"¹(an attribution proposed by both Van Regteren Altena and Schilling). John Rowlands does not, however, believe that either version is actually by Amberger.

The slaying of the Nemean Lion was the first of the twelve labours of Hercules, and the skin that this produced became one of his standard attributes. In some sources, however, the lion skin that Hercules wears is recorded as having come from the Lion of Cithaeron, though the story behind the origin of that pelt is not as familiar.

1. Inv no. A 050