Hercules Freeing Prometheus, François Lespingola, c. 1745 - c. 1749
Hercules is here shown freeing the chained Prometheus from an eagle that comes to pick his liver each day anew. Jupiter had imposed this punishment on Prometheus for stealing fire from the gods. Lespingola’s statuette typifies the narrative, dynamic style of the late French Baroque. The lacquered brass stand was added around 1745.