# Hercules with Omphale [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [CRANACH, Hans]() - Date: 1501-1550 - Technique: Panel, 56 x 84 cm ## Commentary The Hercules with Omphale is one of only two paintings signed by Lucas Cranach the Elder's son, Hans. According to the narrative, Omphale, the Queen of Lydia, has purchased Hercules as her slave. Under her authority, he is commanded to perform duties traditionally associated with women, until gradually, under the spell of her beauty, he begins to enjoy the role reversal. In this painting, Hercules is shown spinning thread and wearing women's clothing. <P> <TABLE ALIGN=LEFT CELLPADDING=5 BORDER=1 WIDTH=320 BGCOLOR="\#99CCCC"> <TR VALIGN=MIDDLE><TD><IMG SRC="/support/gif/listen.gif" BORDER=0 VALIGN=MIDDLE> Suggested listening \(streaming mp3, 8 minutes\):<BR><A HREF="\#" onClick="w=window.open \('/music1/19\_cent/saint-saens\_omphale.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=350,height=350'\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return true"><B>Camille Saint-Saens: Le rouet d'Omphale \(Omphale's Spinning Wheel\), symphonic poem op. 31</B></A> </TD></TR></TABLE> ## Related artworks - [Portrait of a Bearded Young Man]() - [Portrait of a Prince]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 1r\)]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 2v\)]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 38v\)]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 5r\)]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 7r\)]() - [Travel sketchbook \(folio 7v\)]() - [Travel sketchbook]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()