Hercules and Lichas n.d.

Filippo Falciatore created this pen and wash drawing of Hercules and Lichas sometime in the mid-18th century. The image depicts a dramatic scene from Greek mythology, where Hercules hurls the messenger Lichas into the sea. In Falciatore’s time, the art academy played a crucial role in shaping artistic taste. Artists like Falciatore were trained to emulate classical ideals of beauty and heroism, often drawing inspiration from ancient literature and sculpture. The hero was a popular subject for the Neapolitan artist, and we can see that in the muscular body and the theatrical drama of the scene. This approach reflects the values of the cultural elite, who saw themselves as inheritors of the classical tradition. But we also see the beginnings of a more modern sensibility in the loose handling of the medium and the artist’s interest in movement and emotion. To fully understand this drawing, we can research the curriculum of the Neapolitan Academy. We may also consider the political climate of Naples in the 1700’s, including its relationship to the rest of Europe.