Drawing

Physical description

Study of figures; Hercules overcoming two men, one is lying on the ground, apparently dead. The composition repeated on the reverse; Black chalk on grey paper, heightened with white.

Place of Origin

Italy (possibly, drawn)

Date

ca.1540-1594 (made)

Artist/maker

Tintoretto, Jacopo, born 1519 - died 1594 (artist)

Materials and Techniques

Black chalk on grey paper, heightened with white

Dimensions

Height: 14 in, Width: 10 in

Descriptive line

Tintoretto, Jacopo; Hercules overcoming two men, one is lying on the ground, apparently dead. The composition repeated on the reverse; Black chalk on grey paper, heightened with white; Venetian School; ca.1540-1594.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
The relevant text of the entry is as follows:

'VENETIAN SCHOOL.
...
JACOPO ROBUSTI, called TINTORETTO.
Born at Venice in 1512, and died there in 1594.
...
STUDY of figures, Hercules overcoming two men, one apparently dead is lying on the ground. The composition repeated on the reverse. Black chalk on grey paper, heightened with white. 237
Height, 14 inches. Width, 10 inches.
Collection-Sir Joshua Reynolds.'
Lambert, Susan. Drawing: Technique & Purpose. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1981. p.19.
The full text of the entry is as follows:
“II. Drawing as a discipline
[…]
DRAWN COPIES FROM THE ROUND
[…]
74. School of Jacopo Tintoretto (Jacopo
Robusti) (1518-1594); Italian
Studies on each side of the sheet from
Michelangelo’s lost group of Samson slaying
two Philistines
With the collector’s mark of Sir J. Reynolds
(Lugt 2364)
Black chalk heightened with white on faded
blue paper. 36.1 x 28.3 cm
VAM Dyce 237 (Dyce Bequest)
‘At least fifteen other similar studies by
Tintoretto and his school are known.
Tintoretto is known to have drawn regularly
from sculpture, and his studio was stocked
with models and casts. This study may have
been made from a cast of Michelangelo’s
group of from one of the small bronze or
terracotta versions…’
(PWJ I 339)”

Materials

Black chalk; Grey paper

Techniques

Drawing; Heightening

Subjects depicted

Men; Hercules; Samson; Serpents (animals)

Categories

Drawings

Collection code

PDP