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Infant Hercules Strangling Snakes: M.10-1951

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Current Location: Gallery 7 (Courtauld)

Titles

Infant Hercules Strangling Snakes

Maker(s)

Sculptor: Fanelli, Francesco

Entities

Categories

Description

Copper alloy, probably brass, cast, and chased. The infant Hercules kneels on his left knee, holding one snake in his left hand above his head, whilst pinning another to the ground with his other hand. On a rough base, hole in left side of head, in the snake held in the left hand, and in the left side of his body.

Notes

History note: Unknown before testator

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Percy Moore Turner

Measurements and weight

Height: 20.5 cm
Length: 12.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1951) by Turner, Percy Moore

Dating

17th Century, Mid-Late
After 1630 CE - Before 1700 CE

Note

Anglo-Italian, previously called Venetian, first half of the 16th century. Fanelli was born in Florence in 1577, was active in Genoa from 1605-30, came to England and worked for Charles I, and was last documented here in 1641. The attribution of the Hercules to Fanelli is based on its close similarity to a fountain design by Fanelli, published in his 'Varie Architeture' (Antwerp, n.d., plate 19).

People, subjects and objects depicted

Project

  • Sculpture UK

Materials used in production

probably brass Copper alloy
Brass (alloy)

Techniques used in production

Casting (process) : Copper alloy, probably brass, cast, and chased
Chasing

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.10-1951
Primary reference Number: 13922
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_10_1951

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Infant Hercules Strangling Snakes" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/13922 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:15:11

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/13922 |title=Infant Hercules Strangling Snakes |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:15:11|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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