Hercules Pomarius c. 1567 - 1580

Willem Danielsz van Tetrode made this bronze, Hercules Pomarius, sometime between 1525 and 1580. The word ‘pomarius’ refers to fruit, and is a clue to the social context of this sculpture. Hercules wasn’t just about strength; he was a civilizing hero, who used his brawn for the benefit of humankind. Van Tetrode cast this complex figure in bronze, which involved creating a highly detailed mold in wax, then investing it in plaster and firing it to remove the wax. Molten bronze was then poured in, and the mold broken away. The result is a sinuous, tensile figure with extraordinary presence. The point is this: bronze casting was costly and specialized, involving not only the sculptor's skill but also the labor of many others. By depicting Hercules, the embodiment of effort, Van Tetrode shows us that great things come about through a combination of exertion and ingenuity.