Plafond met de apotheose van Hercules 1718

This print, "Plafond met de apotheose van Hercules," was made by Matthijs Pool, sometime before his death in 1740. The image is currently located at the Rijksmuseum. This print captures a ceiling fresco depicting Hercules's apotheosis, a popular subject during the Baroque era. The appeal of Hercules, lay in his image as a strong, virile, heroic figure, one that ruling elites used to legitimize their power and status through associations with classical mythology. In this print, Hercules ascends to Olympus, welcomed by the gods, a narrative of triumph and divine acceptance. What this print doesn't reveal is how these grand narratives often erased the contributions and identities of marginalized groups. During the Baroque period, artists and patrons navigated a complex social hierarchy, and the stories they chose to tell, or not tell, reflected these power dynamics. How do we navigate this complex narrative? Is Hercules’ apotheosis a celebration of the individual or a reflection of broader societal values and power structures?