Choice of Hercules between Virtue and Pleasure (1764) by Benjamin West

Choice of Hercules between Virtue and Pleasure - Benjamin West - 1764

Artwork Information

TitleChoice of Hercules between Virtue and Pleasure
ArtistBenjamin West
Date1764
Mediumoil,canvas
Art MovementNeoclassicism

About Choice of Hercules between Virtue and Pleasure

The artwork titled “Choice of Hercules between Virtue and Pleasure,” created by Benjamin West in 1764, is an oil painting on canvas. This notable piece belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement and falls within the genre of mythological painting.

The artwork depicts a pivotal moment in classical mythology where Hercules must choose between two women, symbolizing Virtue and Pleasure, each representing different life paths. On the left side of the composition, the figure of Pleasure is luxuriously draped in flowing garments, exuding a sense of ease and indulgence. Her positioning and attire suggest an invitation to a life of comfort and hedonism. In contrast, to the right, Virtue is represented in more modest and serene attire, gesturing towards the challenging yet rewarding path of righteousness and hard work. Hercules stands centrally, unclothed except for a modest drapery, embodying a sense of potential and indecision as he considers his choices. The background of the artwork, subtly painted with leafy foliage and a distant landscape, serves to underscore the allegorical nature of this crucial moral decision. The detailed depiction and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow are characteristic of the Neoclassical style, emphasizing clarity, order, and the moralistic nature of the subject matter.

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