Hercules and Anteus by Guercino

 

The fifteenth-century Palazzo Sampieri Talon, located in the very heart of the city, is the perfect setting for a grandiose work such as the Hercules and Antaeus fresco by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, also known as the “Guercino”. Painted in 1631, the work best expresses the extraordinary poetic ability of its creator: the plasticity of the bodies, the tension of the muscles, and the clever use of color. This masterpiece embodies all of the strength and uniqueness of Bolognese Baroque.