Faun Fighting a Snake, anonymous, after Andrea Mantegna, c. 1500 - c. 1550

engraving, h 285mm × w 200mm More details

Although the inscription indicates ‘Hercules’, the pointed ears of the figure reveal him to be a faun (forest god). The engraving is based on a drawing by Andrea Mantegna in the British Museum collection, in London. Besides following the master’s design, the anonymous engraver also emulated his robust style of drawing with thick, closely placed parallel lines.