Juno with the Infant Hercules

myminifactory

Rendered life-size on a convincingly realistic bed crafted from gleaming marble, this impressive sculpture is one of Johan Niklas Byström's most intricate and challenging works. Depicting Juno tenderly cradling the infant Hercules, an uncommon image in art, the union of these two divine figures signifies the protection of the newborn, as exemplified by Hercules' intimate connection with Juno's breast. The mythical theme of suckling is interpreted to indicate Juno's acceptance of Hercules into Olympus, underscoring both initiation and adoption through this tender act. These 3D scans were produced using an Artec Eva, driven by a relentless pursuit of accuracy in creating a digital representation that closely mirrors the original work. Although the presented scans are not exact duplicates due to inaccessible areas and other deviations, they remain an authentic reflection of Byström's masterpiece.