Head of the Hercules Farnese, seen in profile
Rooted in the Neoclassical fascination with antiquity, this sketch captures the rugged profile of the famous Hercules Farnese statue. The hero is shown looking down, his wild hair and heavy beard rendered in sweeping strokes that emphasize his exhaustion after completing his twelve labors. But artist David Humbert de Superville wasn't just copying a masterpiece; he was conducting visual science. He theorized that 'downward' curves—like the drooping nose and heavy chin seen here—universally signaled sadness and fatigue. This piece likely served as a study for his book on the 'absolute signs' of art, where he tried to decode the geometry of human emotion using nothing but lines and shadows.
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