The Giant Antaeus 1868

"The Giant Antaeus," an 1868 work by Gustave Doré, depicts the giant Antaeus, who receives his power from the earth, being subdued by Hercules. The scene takes place in the ninth circle of Hell, as described in Dante's Inferno. Doré's masterful use of chiaroscuro and detailed etching creates a dramatic and unsettling image of the underworld. The contrasting size of the figures, as well as the use of exaggerated anatomy, emphasizes the immense power and strength of Antaeus.