Statue of the Farnese Hercules
Dutch artist Cornelis Pronk created this detailed study of the famous Farnese Hercules, capturing the mythological hero in a moment of rare vulnerability. Instead of fighting a monster, Hercules is shown leaning exhaustedly on his club, draped in the lion skin he won during his first labor. Pronk was a prolific sketcher in the 18th century, essentially acting as a visual journalist for wealthy collectors who wanted to see the great monuments of Europe without leaving home. The '103' at the bottom hints that this was just one of hundreds of sketches in his traveling portfolio.
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