Hercules, Deianeira, and Nessus (1700s): Art, History and Details

Hercules, Deianeira, and Nessus (1700s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

Charles III, King of Naples, established the Capodimonte royal porcelain factory under his patronage in 1743. Responding to the success of Northern European porcelain factories, the Capodimonte group perfected their soft-paste porcelain and produced a variety of high-quality objects, ranging from Rococo-inspired decorative arts to more sculptural works. This unpainted figural group depicts the climax of an episode from the later life of Hercules. His heroic nature prevented Hercules from adapting to domestic life, much to the dismay of his wife, Dejanira. Growing tired of his absence, on one occasion Dejanira pursued Hercules. When she reached a river she could not cross, Dejanira accepted a ride from a centaur, Nessus, who, after taking her half way, attempted to abduct her. Here we see Dejanira clinging to her husband, who has arrived in time to slay Nessus with a poison-tipped arrow.

Object facts

• Title: Hercules, Deianeira, and Nessus
• Date: 1700s
• Culture: Italy, Naples, Capo di Monte
• Type: Sculpture
• Technique: glazed ceramic
• Dimensions: Overall: 37.5 cm (14 3/4 in.)
• Collection: Sculpture
• Department: European Painting and Sculpture
• Accession number: 1939.192

Collection credit

Gift of Leonard C. Hanna Jr., for the Coralie Walker Hanna Memorial Collection

Further reading listed by the museum

• Milliken, William. "The Coralie Walker Hanna Memorial Collection Gift of Leonard C Hanna." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 26, no. 6 (June 1939): 84-115

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.