Hercules and Hippolyte

Paul Manship, Hercules and Hippolyte, n.d., gilded bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.73
Paul Manship, Hercules and Hippolyte, n.d., gilded bronze on marble base, 8 1874 38 in. (20.517.711.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.73

Artwork Details

Title
Hercules and Hippolyte
Artist
Date
n.d.
Dimensions
8 1874 38 in. (20.517.711.0 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Paul Manship
Mediums
Mediums Description
gilded bronze on marble base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Mythology — classical — Hippolyte
  • Mythology — classical — Hercules
Object Number
1966.47.73

Artwork Description

Paul Manship modeled many sculptures of Hercules, the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena. Zeus’s wife, Queen Hera, was jealous of Hercules and tormented him so much that he murdered his own family in a fit of insanity. As punishment, he was sentenced to serve twelve labors for his cousin and enemy, Eurystheus. These included strangling the Nemean lion, whose skin was impenetrable, destroying the many-headed Hydra, and stealing the belt from the Amazon queen Hippolyte. His final labor was to capture Cerberus, a three-headed dog from the kingdom of the dead. Hercules had many more adventures after these tasks were completed, including stealing the Delphic tripod from his half-brother Apollo, and killing the giant Antaeus. Antaeus gained strength every time he touched his mother, the earth, so Hercules defeated him by lifting him high above his head.

Works by this artist (5 items)

Terry Toedtemeier, Burning Railroad Tie, Burlington Cut near Catherine Creek, Klickitat County, Washington, 1987, printed 1988, selenium-toned gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1990.51, © 1987, Terry Toedtemeier
Burning Railroad Tie, Burlington Cut near Catherine Creek,…
Date1987, printed 1988
selenium-toned gelatin silver print
Not on view
Terry Toedtemeier, Spearfish (site), Klickitat County, Washington, 1988, selenium toned gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Consolidated Natural Gas Company Foundation, 1990.70, © 1988, Terry Toedtemeier
Spearfish (site), Klickitat County, Washington
Date1988
selenium toned gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Dateca. 1975
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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
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Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view