Hercules with the Nemean Lion c. 1555

This pen and wash drawing by Prospero Fontana, dated circa 1555, depicts the Greek hero Hercules standing triumphantly over the slain Nemean lion. The scene takes place in a wooded landscape, likely a reference to the Nemean forest where the mythical beast roamed. Fontana's detailed anatomical study of Hercules' muscular form and the dynamic pose he portrays contribute to a sense of strength and heroism, reflecting the artist's mastery of Renaissance drawing techniques.