The Farnese Hercules 1592

"The Farnese Hercules" is an engraving by Hendrick Goltzius, created in 1592. This artwork, now housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts the famous Roman statue of Hercules from the back. Goltzius, known for his masterful use of line, meticulously renders the muscular figure and the folds of the hero’s cloak, demonstrating the artist's deep understanding of human anatomy. The engraving's detailed depiction of the statue, a masterpiece of ancient Roman art, reveals Goltzius’s admiration for classical sculpture and his skill in translating three-dimensional form onto a two-dimensional plane.