The Farnese Hercules
1639
Imagine finishing twelve impossible tasks and just needing to lean on your club for a minute—that's exactly what Peter van Lint captured here in 1639. This drawing is a Baroque study of the famous Farnese Hercules, an ancient statue that was basically the 'Mona Lisa' of sculpture for artists visiting Rome. Van Lint meticulously rendered every bulging muscle and the heavy drape of the Nemean lion skin, showing off the dramatic flair of the era. It’s a perfect example of how 17th-century artists worshipped classical antiquity, turning a tired hero into a masterpiece of anatomy.