Head of Hercules with the lion's skin and bust of Omphale

Unknown

mid-16th century · Agate · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Gems carved on the back as well as the front became a specialty of sixteenth-century masters. Omphale, legendary queen of Lydia, was a mistress of Hercules. The zigzag of white that emerged in both sides of the grayish brown morsel of agate forcefully highlights both his lion skin and her veil.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-16th century

Medium

Agate

Culture

Italian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Milton Weil Collection, 1938