Hercules and Alcestis 1756 - 1801

Johann Caspar Lavater created this oil on canvas painting, Hercules and Alcestis, sometime in the late 18th century. Lavater, a Swiss pastor and physiognomist, was fascinated by the relationship between outward appearance and inner character. Set against a classical landscape, the painting depicts a scene from Greek mythology, where Hercules restores Alcestis to her husband Admetus after she sacrificed herself for him. The emotional heart of this painting lies in the figures of Alcestis and Admetus. Consider the gendered dimensions of sacrifice and heroism embodied here. The image asks us to reflect on the social expectations placed on women. Alcestis, draped in white, embodies a kind of tragic nobility in her self-sacrifice while Hercules represents the active, masculine, heroic ideal. The cupid at their feet feels both incidental and representative of the stakes, the family. Ultimately, Lavater's painting isn't just a retelling of myth; it's an exploration of the human condition through the lens of classical ideals, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of love, duty, and the burdens of identity.