The Death of Hercules

Hercules lies upon the funeral pyre after the poisoned garment sent by Deianira brings his mortal life to an end. The chapter follows the deception of Nessus, the agony caused by the Hydra's poison and the hero's final ascent beyond human suffering. Above the flames, the celestial chariot signals his apotheosis.

This is one of the book's fullest narratives: the surrounding pages continue into his birth, labours and an extended chronology of his exploits. The plate gathers that immense biography into its last transformation, contrasting the weight of the body below with the divine reception above.

Historical context is adapted from the accompanying commentary by Antoine de La Barre de Beaumarchais. Its interpretations reflect the period in which the book was published.

This edition follows plate 26 in Le Temple des Muses. The complete historical page and its explanatory text remain available in the source record. Source attribution: Bernard Picart and other engravers, Le Temple des Muses (1749 edition). Museum date: 1749 (publication). Source medium: Engraving, inner pictorial scene. Source portfolio: Le Temple des Muses, plate 26.

The inner illustration has been straightened and extracted from its surrounding engraved frame, caption and paper. The comparison shows that extracted engraving beside Surrealium's contemporary colour interpretation.

Surrealium's contemporary AI-assisted colour interpretation takes this print as its starting point. The colours are interpretive choices made for this edition.

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