Hercules and Antaeus
by GIAMBOLOGNA, Bronze, height 51 cm
Following Vincenzo de’ Rossi’s example, Giambologna executed some of the scenes from the series of twelve labours of Hercules. However, by contrast to De’ Rossi, he never had any intention of finishing a whole series. The first two scenes from the cycle he chose to treat those showing the hero’s battle with the centaur and with the giant Antaeus.