Héraklès tue les oiseaux du lac Stymphale

"Héraklès tue les oiseaux du lac Stymphale" is a bronze sculpture created by the French artist Antoine Bourdelle. The work depicts the mythological hero Hercules, also known as Heracles, as he kills the birds of Lake Stymphalos. The extermination of the Stymphalian birds was the sixth of the twelve labours of Hercules, set for him as punishment for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness. In the Greek mythology, the birds of this lake were monstrous, feeding on human flesh, which infesting the woods surrounding the lake Stymphale, in Arcadia, using their sharp-pointed feathers bronze (according to one of several versions) as arrows, to kill men and beasts, and devour.
In this sculpture, Bourdelle portrays Hercules with a fierce expression as he stands tall and muscular, wielding his club to defeat the birds. The work is known for its dynamic composition, which captures the intense moment of action, and its attention to detail, including the textured feathers of the birds and the intricate folds of Hercules' tunic. Overall, "Héraklès tue les oiseaux du lac Stymphale" is considered a masterpiece of classical art and a testament to Bourdelle's skill as a sculptor.