This scene concludes the earthly story of Hercules: after an intense existence studded with trials and hardships, the hero dies due to the jealousy of his wife Dejanira. Envious of the attention that her consort had paid to the beautiful Iole, she in fact sprinkled the demigod's dress with a powerful poison obtained from the blood of the centaur Nessus. As soon as it was worn, the tunic caused Hercules pain so severe that he wanted to die. This is the moment depicted by Gregorio De Ferrari: Hercules has just thrown himself on the funeral pyre he has built, while, on the left, Philoctetes, whom the demigod had asked to light the fire, flees in fear.