HeraclesOmphale2.0108

Giovanni di Niccolò Luteri, called Dosso Dossi (ca. 1487-1542), with possible intervention by his brother Battista di Niccolò Luteri, called Battista Dossi (ca. 1517 - 1548), "The Allegory of Hercules (and Omphale?)", ("Bambocciata" or "Ingeniousness") (ca. 1536-1540), oil on canvas, 144.5 x 142.8 cm), Florence, Uffizi, Palatine (1912) no. 148.

An allegory addressed to Ercole I and Ercole II d'Este, two noblemen named after Heracles.

The queen of Lydia, Omphale, has purchased Hercules, whose thralldom to her will expiate his murder of Iole's brother Iphitus. This innovative picture combines elements of The Choice of Heracles motif and the thralldom to Omphale. The hero is actively spinning yarn, and the man holding his distaff stands between the hero and two women. The first of these casts her modest blush, perhaps in shame for the scene unfolding. For she seems to be the figure from the setting of Heracles' Choice, extending all the way back to Prodicus to Dossi's day (e.g. in Annibale Carracci's "Choice of Hercules")', the muse directing the hero to his arduous potential; the seductress at the far right offers the dangers of instantaneous gratification of the flesh. She bawdily elbows her way to front of the scene leading with a platter of enticements.

Bibliography:
See the multiple items, dating from 2011 to 2017 cited on the Uffizi page linked above.