Hercules resting
Statuette
18th century (made)
18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze statuette represents Hercules resting. He stands, naked, his left foot forwards, leaning on a trunk draped with the lion's skin under his left arm, his left hand touching his club.
Imitated from an antique statuette of the type of the Farnese Hercules.
The antique Farnese Hercules is one of the most famous ancient sculptures which dates from the 3rd century AD. It came into the collection of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589), the granson of Pope Paul III, who was a great patron of the arts and assembled one of the biggest collections of ancient sculpture. The statue was displayed for generations in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.
The Farnese statue was moved to Naples in 1787 and is now displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Hercules (Greek name is Heracles) is one of the most important heroes in Greek mythology and represents the characteristics of masculinity, strength, courage and sexual prowess.
He was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, a Theban princess. He is regarded as the embodiment of physical strength and courage.
His two main attributes are the club and the lion’s skin, which he won at his first labour. He had to undertake 12 labours as a penance for slaying his own children in an act of madness.
Imitated from an antique statuette of the type of the Farnese Hercules.
The antique Farnese Hercules is one of the most famous ancient sculptures which dates from the 3rd century AD. It came into the collection of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589), the granson of Pope Paul III, who was a great patron of the arts and assembled one of the biggest collections of ancient sculpture. The statue was displayed for generations in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.
The Farnese statue was moved to Naples in 1787 and is now displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Hercules (Greek name is Heracles) is one of the most important heroes in Greek mythology and represents the characteristics of masculinity, strength, courage and sexual prowess.
He was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, a Theban princess. He is regarded as the embodiment of physical strength and courage.
His two main attributes are the club and the lion’s skin, which he won at his first labour. He had to undertake 12 labours as a penance for slaying his own children in an act of madness.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Hercules resting (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Statuette, bronze, Hercules resting, after the antique type of the Farnese Hercules, Italy, 18th century |
| Physical description | Bronze statuette of Hercules resting. He stands, naked, his left foot forwards, leaning on a trunk draped with the lion's skin under his left arm, his left hand touching his club; his right hand, holding a small apple (?) is bent behind his back. Bearded type, with a disproportionately small head. On a square base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Imitated from an antique statuette of the type of the Farnese Hercules. From the Salting bequest. |
| Production | After the antique |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze statuette represents Hercules resting. He stands, naked, his left foot forwards, leaning on a trunk draped with the lion's skin under his left arm, his left hand touching his club. Imitated from an antique statuette of the type of the Farnese Hercules. The antique Farnese Hercules is one of the most famous ancient sculptures which dates from the 3rd century AD. It came into the collection of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1520-1589), the granson of Pope Paul III, who was a great patron of the arts and assembled one of the biggest collections of ancient sculpture. The statue was displayed for generations in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. The Farnese statue was moved to Naples in 1787 and is now displayed in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Hercules (Greek name is Heracles) is one of the most important heroes in Greek mythology and represents the characteristics of masculinity, strength, courage and sexual prowess. He was the son of Jupiter and Alcmena, a Theban princess. He is regarded as the embodiment of physical strength and courage. His two main attributes are the club and the lion’s skin, which he won at his first labour. He had to undertake 12 labours as a penance for slaying his own children in an act of madness. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.138-1910 |
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| Record created | October 22, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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