Harpies try to keep open the doors of the temple of Janus, but they are clubbed by Hercules. Mezzotint by A. Blooteling after G. Lairesse.

  • Lairesse, Gérard de, 1640-1711.
Date:
1660-1690
Reference:
562754i
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view Harpies try to keep open the doors of the temple of Janus, but they are clubbed by Hercules. Mezzotint by A. Blooteling after G. Lairesse.

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Credit

Harpies try to keep open the doors of the temple of Janus, but they are clubbed by Hercules. Mezzotint by A. Blooteling after G. Lairesse. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

The open gates of the temple of Janus indicate a state of war, the closed gates indicate a state of peace. Here two goddesses or priestesses try to close the gates, but harpies try to keep them open. One of the two women holds the caduceus. Above the door to the temple is the two-faced bust of Janus

Publication/Creation

1660-1690

Physical description

1 print : mezzotint ; platemark 36.5 x 27.5 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Tem[plum] Ianus; G. Lairesse pinxit; A. Blooteling fecit et ex.

References note

Charles Le Blanc, Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, Amsterdam 1970, vol. 1, p. 384 "Blootelingh. Le temple de Janus: Gérard Lairesse. Haut 350 millim., larg. 272"
Hollstein's Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700, vol. 2, Amsterdam [1950], Blooteling no. 231, "Hercules before the temple of Janus. G. Lairesse pinxit"
Stefano Pierguidi, 'Gérard de Lairesse and Bloemaert', Print quarterly, 2004, 21: 293-295

Reference

Wellcome Collection 562754i

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