ganymedesrocks:

Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestis, circa1869-1871   Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton, (3 December 1830 – 25 January 1896), known as Sir Frederic Leighton between 1878 and 1896, was an English painter and sculptor. His works depicted historical, mythological, biblical, and classical subject matter. 

According to Greek mythology, Alcestis, wife of Admetus, was willing to sacrifice herself so that her husband, who had angered Artemis, could live.  In Euripedes’ play, ‘Hercules Furens’, Hercules, a guest at Admetus’s palace, at the time of his wife’s death, goes after Death and wrestles for the body of Alcestis, winning Life  back to her Soul and Spirit [if not to her body, as the colour, at least in this rendering, does not appears exceedingly reflective of life.]

* The second picture in this series ‘Hercules Wrestling with Death for the Body of Alcestes’ - is a Colour Sketch, probably preparatory, by Lord Frederic Leighton