Hercules Rejects Pleasure and Chooses Virtue - Simon Gribelin

A 1713 engraving by Simon Gribelin depicting the classical allegory of Hercules choosing between Virtue and Pleasure, based on a painting by Paolo de Matteis.

This engraving by Simon Gribelin, dated 1713, depicts the classical allegory of the Choice of Hercules. The composition centres on the hero, who stands in a contemplative posture, caught between two opposing figures. To his left, Virtue stands upright, gesturing towards a rugged path, while to his right, Pleasure reclines in a relaxed, inviting manner. The scene draws from the moral philosophy popularised during the early eighteenth century, particularly within the circle of Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, to whom this print is dedicated.

Gribelin, a French engraver who spent much of his career in London, was known for his technical precision in reproducing paintings. This work is based on a painting by Paolo de Matteis. The engraving captures the dramatic contrast between the two female figures through varied line work and shading. Virtue is rendered with a sense of stability and purpose, her drapery falling in structured folds, whereas Pleasure is depicted with softer, more fluid lines, reflecting her indulgent nature. The background features a split environment, with a steep, rocky ascent behind Virtue and a more sheltered, wooded area behind Pleasure, reinforcing the narrative of the difficult path versus the easy one.

The print includes a decorative border and a coat of arms at the base, characteristic of the formal presentation of such allegorical works in the period. The Latin and English inscriptions at the bottom provide the title and the dedication, situating the piece within the intellectual culture of the British aristocracy. The work demonstrates Gribelin's ability to translate the tonal qualities of oil paint into the monochromatic medium of engraving, using cross-hatching and stippling to define the musculature of Hercules and the textures of the surrounding foliage and fabric.