Hercules and Omphale, Artemisia Gentileschi
A previously unknown painting by renowned 17th-century Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi, Hercules and Omphale, is now on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles after surviving the devastating Beirut port explosion in 2020 and undergoing a three-year conservation effort. The work is the centerpiece of a new exhibition titled Artemisia’s Strong Women: Rescuing a Masterpiece, which celebrates Gentileschi’s enduring legacy of portraying powerful female figures.
Discovered amidst the rubble of the historic Sursock Palace in Beirut, Hercules and Omphale had never been documented before. The palace, a 19th century architectural landmark built in 1860 by Moussa Sursock, has been home to one of Beirut’s most prominent families for over 150 years. Severely damaged in the blast, the palace sits next to the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum, Beirut’s largest art institution, which also underwent major restoration and reopened in 2023.
The painting arrived at the Getty in 2022 for conservation in a heavily damaged state, riddled with holes, tears, and debris.
“In over 30 years as a conservator, this was some of the worst damage I’ve seen,” said Ulrich Birkmaier, senior conservator of paintings at the Getty.
“It was like reconstructing a massive puzzle, piece by piece.” Advanced X-ray imaging helped conservators trace the artist’s original brushwork and reconstruct missing details lost in the blast.
Dated to the 1630s, during Gentileschi’s years in Naples, the painting reimagines the Greek myth of Hercules and Omphale. In a subversive twist on gender roles, Hercules is shown holding a spindle while Omphale dons his lion skin and wields his club. Their intimate gaze, watched over by Cupid, underscores themes of love, dominance, and power dynamics, subjects that fascinated artists and writers of the Baroque era.
Gentileschi, often hailed as the most celebrated female painter of 17th-century Italy, is known for her compelling portrayals of women from mythology, history, and scripture. In addition to Hercules and Omphale, the Getty’s exhibition includes works such as Bathsheba and David, Susanna and the Elders, Lucretia, and Self-Portrait as a Martyr.
Curator Davide Gasparotto highlights that this period in Gentileschi’s career has often been unfairly dismissed. “Her time in Naples is typically seen as a decline, but in reality, Artemisia showed incredible business savvy and artistic innovation. She expanded her studio practice and embraced ambitious themes and formats,” he noted.
After its run at the Getty through October 1, Hercules and Omphale will travel to the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, where it will remain on view until May 30, 2026. The painting will then return to Los Angeles before ultimately being reinstalled at Sursock Palace in Beirut.
The palace’s restoration, led by UNESCO along with other cultural landmarks in Beirut, symbolizes resilience and cultural continuity. “Sursock Palace is a jewel of Lebanese architecture, and its recovery represents the spirit of Beirut’s community,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO. “We’re proud that Hercules and Omphale found a temporary sanctuary in Los Angeles while the palace is being restored.”
Featuring Image Courtesy: Financial Times
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