Axial Commons Image Treasury

Engraving of Hercules with a bow at left and a centaur with an arrow in its back among trees at right, with a stone block and distant town.

Hercules and Nessus, from The Labors of Hercules

A black-ink engraving shows the hero Hercules, nude except for a flowing cloak, holding a bow at left as a centaur with an arrow in its back twists among trees at right. A stone block and a distant town complete the rocky landscape.

Artist: Hans Sebald Beham
Date: 1542
Medium: Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
Source: Art Institute of Chicago
Size: 1686 × 1102 px

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Public domain · Art Institute of Chicago releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1542).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (Art Institute of Chicago, is_public_domain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Art Institute of Chicago, The Charles Deering Collection

16th century 1540s 1542 engraving laid paper mythology renaissance print bow and arrow hans sebald beham centaur labors of hercules nessus hercules black and white