HeraclesOmphale2.0099

Honoré Daumier, engraver, 1808-1879, "Hercules and Omphale", satiric lithograph, 1842, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Prentenkabinet RP-P-1945-110

The queen of Lydia, Omphale, has purchased Heracles, whose thralldom to her will expiate his murder of Iole's brother Iphitus.

Daumier originally published the print in Le Charivari, Aubert: Paris on 18 Sept 1842. The journal was a common venue for political cartoons.

The captoin reads: "Hercule dompté par l'Amour / Ce dieu malin qui dans sa course triomphale / Soumet tout; Rois, Pasteurs, Héros et Députés; / D'Alcide interrompit les exploits redoutés / Pour l'enchaîner aux pieds d'Omphale." (Poesies galantes de M' Sauzet)

Hercules Tamed by Love / This naughty god who in his triumphal career / subdues everything — kings, shepherds, heroes, and Congressmen — / intercepted Alcides' venerable exploits / to chain him at the feet of Omphale."

The image at right is derived from the Rijksmuseum website but regarded by them formally as "in the public domain", thus used here with assumed permission under creative commons.