Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestes

Lord Frederic Leighton (1830 - 1896)

Leighton House Museum

1869 - 1871

According to Greek mythology, Alcestis, wife of Admetus, was willing to sacrifice herself so that her husband, who had angered Artemis, could live. In Euripedes's play, 'Hercules Furens', Hercules, a guest at Admetus's palace at the time of his wife's death, goes after Death and wrestles with him for the body of Alcestis and wins her back.

• Medium: oil on canvas
• Dimensions: 19 x 37 cm
• Art Fund Grant: £715 ( Total: £9,430)
• ArtFunded in: 1993
• Vendor: Christie's

Provenance

Ernest Brown & Philips, London, Christie's 5/3/93 lot 94.

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