Italian school, XVII century. "Defeat of Diomedes, king of Thrace". Oil on canvas. Relined. Presents in the upper right side a figure of St. Francis painted in a later period than the original. Measurements: 49 x 68 cm; 58 x 77 cm. (frame). In this Italian painting of baroque period of dynamic composition appears represented the subject of the victory of Hercules over Diomedes, at the moment of being crushed by a rearing horse. It narrates an episode of the labors of Hercules that has been treated on numerous occasions in paintings and sculptures of different periods. We refer to the eighth of the twelve labors of the hero, which consisted of capturing the four mares of Diomedes, who ate human flesh. Their owner had them tied with chains and fed them with the flesh of their innocent guests. Hercules managed to snatch them from Diomedes, who went to meet them with his army, but the latter defeated him and threw the body, still alive, to the mares. After devouring the corpse, the mares became so tame that Heracles was able to tie them to Diomedes' chariot and took them to Mycenae, where they were given to Hera as a gift. Dimensions 49 x 68 cm; 58 x 77 cm. (frame).