38 - Heinrich Aldegrever - Hercules fighting the Hydra - 1550

Heinrich Aldegrever - Hercules fighting the Hydra - 1550 Description: Hercules fighting the Hydra; standing with his club raised, about to hit out at the nine-headed monster standing in the entrance to a cave. Engraving, signed with monogram and dated 1550 on a tablet at upper left With the engraved text line:'Praelia lernae tibi perficienda colubri Tirinthi minime fortia corda pavent'. This print is the fourth plate from the celebrated series of thirteen engravings, The Labors of Hercules, engraved by Aldegrever in 1550. An outstanding early impression of exceptional quality, with distinguished provenance. Formerly in the collection of Ambroise Firmin-Didot (Lugt 119), son of the renowned publisher Firmin Didot. Ambroise Firmin-Didot assembled one of the great nineteenth-century print collections, celebrated for both its richness and the quality of its impressions; the collection was dispersed in Paris in 1877. Subsequently in the collection of Juan Jorge Peoli (Lugt 2020), whose collection was auctioned in New York in 1894. Later acquired by Metropolitan Museum of Art (Lugt 1943). The sheet was eventually deaccessioned as a duplicate impression, as indicated by the “Metropolitan Duplicate” stamp (Lugt 1808h), a mark used from 1923 onward, and was finally acquired from Sotheby's by the present owner. Rare in this exceptionally fine and early impression, with superb provenance. Dimensions: 10,40 x 6,70 cm Condition: Outstanding, richly inked early impression with full plate border and traces of tread margins. In excellent condition. Literature: New Hollstein (German) / The New Hollstein: German engravings, etchings and woodcuts 1400-1700 (Aldegrever)(86) ----- Bartsch / Le Peintre graveur (VIII.392.86) Medium: Engraving Date: 1550