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Hercules and the Nemean lion

Rubens had a soft spot for the ancient hero Hercules. In this drawing, he bends forward slightly as he crushes the head of the Nemean Lion. In his attempt to find the ideal posture, Rubens gave Hercules three right and two left legs.

From the Print Cabinet's collection

This drawing by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), executed in red and black chalk, shows the ancient hero Hercules in the middle. He is bending forward slightly as he crushes the head of the Nemean Lion with his left arm.
 

Twelve labours

This theme, taken from one of the twelve labours of Hercules, was depicted on more than one occasion by Rubens. His attempts to find what he regarded as an acceptable posture for the hero resulted in a Hercules with three right and two left legs. 

This drawing is variously dated by art historians either to after 1630 or to ca. 1613-1616. 
 

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The Print Cabinet

The Print Cabinet of the Museum Plantin-Moretus has more than 20,000 drawings. This rich collection is among the finest in the world, and focuses on Antwerp artists from 1500 to the present.

foto: Ans Brys

What is there to see?

Discover the magic of the Museum. In mansion and printing press. In room and studio. In letters and typography. In beautiful books. Experience how, long before our digital age, words and images were spread around the world.

Dive into the collection

The Museum Plantin-Moretus presents three hundred years of book-printing art and family history. You can admire the oldest printing presses in the world and a rich collection of art, including portraits by Rubens. In the library, you will find manuscripts, incunabula and original prints. And the archives tell you about daily life in both the printing works and the mansion.

detail van een oude drukpers

Highlights

In the Museum Plantin-Moretus, the oldest printing presses in the world are not the only things to discover. The original lead type of fonts such as Garamond, the Gutenberg Bible and ancient manuscripts tell the story of how writing evolved into the art of printing. Portraits by Peter Paul Rubens hang on the walls and the house is beautifully furnished. Check out the indispensable highlights here.

Museum Plantin-Moretus

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