Antique print - Exquisite "Hercules and Atlas" 1893 Walter Crane A gorgeous, high quality, illustration by one of Britain's most well-respected illustrators and artists of the period. Walter Crane was a painter, decorator, designer, book illustrator, writer and socialist. Born in Liverpool in 1845, his technical background allowed him to develop a much greater craftsmanship in the art of the book than any other contemporary artist. He had the great strength of being principally an illustrator and not merely a painter who illustrated books. The Paris Commune had a powerful influence on him and led to his association with William Morris and the socialist cause.
Although direct followers are hard to pin down, Crane was widely influential and the Crane style appears in the Art School work of the 1890s and 1900s. (Houfe)
Absolutely exquisite detail and colouring to this image of "Hercules and Atlas" - fantastic image of Atlas supporting the heaven and stars on his shoulders.
In Greek mythology, Atlas was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens.
One of the Twelve Labors of the hero Heracles (Hercules) was to fetch some of the golden apples which grow in Hera's garden, tended by Atlas' daughters, the Hesperides, and guarded by the dragon Ladon. Heracles went to Atlas and offered to hold up the heavens while Atlas got the apples from his daughters.
Upon his return with the apples, however, Atlas attempted to trick Heracles into carrying the sky permanently by offering to deliver the apples himself. Because anyone who purposely took the burden must carry it forever, or until someone else took it away from them. Heracles, suspecting Atlas did not intend to return, pretended to agree to Atlas' offer, asking only that Atlas take the sky again for a few minutes so Heracles could rearrange his cloak as padding on his shoulders. When Atlas set down the apples and took the heavens upon his shoulders again, Heracles took the apples and ran away. (Wikipedia) |
