Choice of Hercules (1819)

Dated 1819, "Choice of Hercules" is an artwork by Thomas Sully. Background on Mythology: Mythological painting draws on stories from Greek and Roman myth, and on other traditions such as Norse, Celtic, and Hindu narrative. In European academies, history and mythological subjects ranked highest among painting genres, so they often appear on a large scale and with ambitious compositions. About the period around 1819: Landscape gained new prestige through groups such as the Barbizon painters in France and the Hudson River School in the United States, and by mid-century Realism turned to ordinary people and everyday labour. The invention of lithography around 1796 and its spread in these decades made printed images cheaper and more varied. It is listed in the Mythology collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

On onlly.art "Choice of Hercules" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

American, 1783–1872

If you like the visual language of Thomas Sully, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.