The Farnesian Hercules
1592
Hendrick Goltzius decided that the front view of the famous Hercules statue wasn't enough, so he gave us this spectacular rear view of the hero's back. Look at those muscles—it's like a topographical map of beef! He included two tiny tourists in the bottom right corner just to prove how massive this guy is. This print comes from Goltzius's trip to Italy around 1590, where he was totally obsessed with Michelangelo and ancient statues. It's a classic example of Mannerism, where artists pushed human anatomy to exaggerated limits to show off their skill and create a sense of awe.
- Technique
- Engraving
Views: 9