Hercules and Lichas, Pietro Fontana, after Giovanni Tognolli, after Antonio Canova, 1812
engraving, h 620mm × w 465mm More details
Hercules casts his servant Lichas, who holds on for dear life in vain, into the sea. The vengeful centaur Nessus gave Hercules’ wife his own blood with the promise that it would ensure her husband’s faithfulness. Lichas brought Hercules a garment drenched in Nessus’ blood, however it proved to be poisoned and caused Hercules unbearable pain. The frenzied Hercules killed Lichas. In the end, the desperate Hercules cast himself on a pyre and died.
