Hercules and Antaeus

A bearded, dark-haired man plants his feet on grassy ground and grips a second nude figure under the arms, hoisting him into the air in a wrestling hold; the lifted figure's legs kick free of the earth as the two strain against each other. A tall dark tree trunk, layered green shrubs, and a pale, curling driftwood-like form in the grass beside a narrow stream complete the setting.

Rendered in the fine parallel hatching typical of painted maiolica, warm ochre and honey-toned flesh is set against deep blue-green foliage and a near-black tree silhouette; the taut, twisting poses and straining musculature convey physical effort, while the dense linear technique keeps the scene decorative and graphic rather than naturalistic.