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A black-and-white print portrays two people looking up at a large sculpture.

A black-and-white print shows two men, facing the viewer, looking up at a large, stone sculpture of a naked man. The sculpture has its back to the viewer and is much larger than the people, whose heads and torsos are shown. The sculpture is very muscular. He holds three rocks in his right hand, which he puts behind his back. He leans against a large, wooden club, which supports him under his left armpit. This takes place outside: clouds streak the across the top of the image.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
G1665
People
Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch (Mühlbracht 1558 - 1617 Haarlem, Netherlands)
Title
The Farnesian Hercules
Other Titles
Alternate Title: The Farnese Hercules
Series/Book Title: Three Famous Antique Sculptures
Series/Book Title: Antique Statues of Rome
Classification
Prints
Work Type
print
Date
c. 1592 - 1617
Culture
Dutch
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/275147

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Engraving printed in black ink on off-white antique laid paper
Technique
Engraving
Dimensions
plate: 41.5 x 29.8 cm (16 5/16 x 11 3/4 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Signed: HGoltzius sculp.
  • inscription: verso, graphite : -D-
  • collector's mark: verso, purple stamp with graphite numbering within: [Gray Collection accession stamp (Lugt 4836)] 1665
  • (not assigned): verso: The reverse of this print bears an offset of another impression of the same print.It also retains exceptionally deep relief within the engraved lines.
  • inscription: in plate, l.l., margin: 1
  • inscription: in plate, on stone base of statue: HERCVLES VICTOR
  • inscription: in plate, lower margin, to left and right: 1 / Dominto triformi rege Lusitaniæ, / Raptisq malis quæ Hesperi sub cardine // Servarat bortis aureis virgil draco, / Fessus quievi terror orbis Hercules. / Schrevel.
  • inscription: lower margin, centered: Statúa antiqúa Romæ in palatio Cardinalis Fernisij / opús posthúmúm HG[monogram]oltzy, iam primum divulgat An°. M.D.C.X.VII.
  • inscription: engraved in plate, lower left corner of design area: HG[monogram]oltzius Sculp. Cum privilig. / Sa. Cæ. M. / Herman Adolfsz / excud. Haarlemen.

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Francis Calley Gray, bequest to nephew, 1856.
William Gray, gift to Harvard University, 1857.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

State
i/i
Standard Reference Number
New Hollstein 378, Bartsch 143, Filedt Kok P.5.1, TIB0301.143

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of William Gray from the collection of Francis Calley Gray
Object Number
G1665
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Exhibition History

  • The "Master Prints" of Hendrik Goltzius and Mannerist Art, Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley, 03/09/2005 - 06/30/2005
  • HAA 10 Survey Course: The Western Tradition, Art Since the Renaissance, Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 03/08/2008 - 04/06/2008
  • HAA 10 Survey Course (S421): The Western Tradition: Art Since the Renaissance (Fall 08 Rotation 2), Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 10/23/2008 - 11/16/2008
  • HAA 10 Survey Course (S421): The Western Tradition: Art Since the Renaissance (Fall 09 Rotation 2), Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 10/16/2009 - 11/08/2009
  • Around Antique: Prints, Drawings, and Photographs (Teaching Gallery) S421, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 05/14/2010 - 09/04/2010
  • 32Q: 2400 French/Italian/Spanish, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 02/01/2024 - 08/05/2024

Subjects and Contexts

  • Google Art Project
  • Collection Highlights

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu