Hercules and Lernaean Hydr
A Family Guide The Metropolitan Museum
Gustave Moreau (1826-1898) lived in Paris during the nineteenth century. Throughout his lite, he was interested in all sorts of images: the pictures he saw when he visired Italy, small paintings from India, even magazine illustrations. In his paintings of religious and mythological stories, Moreau liked to show the conflict between good and evil. His paintings often feature rich colors and eerie details, the kind you might see in a dream. Toward the end of his life, Moreau decided that he wanted to reach other artists. Some of his students, such as Henri Matiwe and George* Rouault, later became very famous artists too.
At home: Choose a story that you especially like, and make a drawing of one scene in it. Experiment with how the figures and objects should he placed. When you arc done, make a frame for it. You can even come up with a series of questions about it that someone else can answer.
This Famil) Guide is made possible through the generous support of the Uris Brothers Foundation. Between Epic and Dream Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra
1869-76, I >il ..II ^.im.is. "il i/S x i,\ 1/4 ,„. Signed lower nghr: Gustave More tu The Art Institute of Chicago; (,itt..! Mrs. Eugene A. Davidson, r>M.2H Hercules, a hero in Greek and Roman mythology, In order to depict the Hydra, Moreau studied was the son of the god Jupiter (Zeus) and illustrations in scientific books on reptiles; he Alemene, the most beautiful and wise of mortal may also have visited a natural history museum women. Jupiter's wife, Juno (Hera), hated Hercules in Paris. Look carefully at the central snake; it is and tormented him constantly. Her most vicious based on the cobras that were used to decorate act was to drive Hercules insane, which caused Egyptian headdresses. him to mistake his own sons for a group While the painting clearly illustrates a famous of attacking enemies. His penance for killing myth, it may also refer to an important political his children was to undertake twelve lahors, feats event of the time. France had just lost a war that would have been impossible for an ordinary to Prussia, so the figure of Hercules probably mortal. They included slaying the Nemean Lion, represents France, while the Hydra symbolizes an enormous beast whose hide could not be the Prussians. pierced by sword, arrow, or spear; capturing the Ceryneum Stag, a creature who ran faster than What is the mood of the painting? the wind; and killing the Hydra, the scene depicted Does the artist use any repeating colors or shapes? in this painting. With its seven fearsome heads, What time of day do you think it is? the poisonous snake lived in the bleak and dismal What do you think happened right before this marshes of Lerna, in the land of Argos. The Hydra moment? What do you think will happen next? was very difficult to kill, because each time one How many of the Hydra's victims can you find? of its poisonous heads was cut off, two new ones (Be careful; many of them blend into the grew in its place. landscape.) Hercules destroyed the Hydra with the help of his nephew [elans. Each time Hercules cut off Moreau's interest in Hercules lasted his whole life. one of the Hydra's heads, lolaus burned the spot Walk around the preceding two galleries and take with a hot poker so no new heads could grow. a look at the other Hercules paintings. How are When Hercules cut off the central head, he buried they similar to this one? How are they different? it under a rock. Where does Moreau place the figure of Hercules? Craggy gray rocks provide a dramatic back Is he the first thing you see when you look at each ground for this painting. Some of the Hydra's of these paintings? victims lie on the rocks and on the swampy ground. You can find images of Hercules in other galleries Moreau spent several years experimenting throughout the Museum; several are in the new with the composition of the painting. He moved Greek galleries on the first floor. A helmet the figures around and changed their size and representing the Nemean Lion is in the Arms and placement. He made hundreds of studies just for Armor galleries, which are also located on the the figure of Hercules. In the finished painting, first floor. Hercules holds a club and a laurel branch, which was sacred to the sun god, Apollo. The figure of Hercules, in fact, resembles an ancient Greek srarue of the sun god.