Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion 1500 - 1515

This small silver plaquette, created by the Italian artist Moderno (Galeazzo Mondella) between 1500 and 1515, depicts the Greek hero Hercules in the act of strangling the Nemean lion. The relief sculpture, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the artist's mastery of detail, rendering the scene with both power and grace. The dynamic composition highlights Hercules' strength as he grapples with the fearsome beast, while the delicate rendering of the lion's mane and the background foliage reveals a sensitive touch. This plaquette exemplifies the High Renaissance interest in classical mythology and the human form.