Farnese Hercules, 20th Century, Carrara Marble

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Herma of the farnese hercules 1:1 in white carrara marble 20th century life size 1:1 of the huge head of … Read more Herma of the farnese hercules 1:1 in white carrara marble 20th century life size 1:1 of the huge head of the farnese hercules of the national archaeological museum of naples - italy sculpture made of white carrara marble excelent condition italy height 66cm width 52cm depth 40cm weight 180 kg material white carrara marble the farnese hercules is a 317 cm high hellenistic marble sculpture by glycon of athens datable to the 3rd century ad. Kept in the national archaeological museum of naples. It appears to be a copy of the bronze original created by lysippos in the 4th century bc. On the rock, under the club, there is the signature of the copyist glycon, an athenian sculptor from the 2nd century ad. The statue, together with the entire farnese collection present in the national archaeological museum of naples, was found in the baths of caracalla in rome around 1546. It later became part of the collection of cardinal alessandro farnese. For generations the hercules was placed in the sala d'ercole of the palazzo farnese in rome, and with it, in the same building, there were also placed a large part of the ancient sculptures. In 1787, thanks to the inheritance obtained by charles of bourbon, son of elisabetta farnese, the entire farnese collection was transferred to naples and placed first in the capodimonte palace, built for this purpose, and then, subsequently, in the palazzo del real museum. The statue was found for the first time without some pieces, including the two calves. Thus guglielmo della porta, a pupil of michelangelo, carried out the restoration of the sculpture by inserting the aforementioned missing parts. Subsequently, when the two fragments of lower limbs were found, it was decided to leave the recently added pieces as they were considered to be of better quality. Only during the bourbon period of naples, at the end of the eighteenth century, was it decided to restore the ancient arts by replacing them with the restored ones. Today in the archaeological museum of naples it is possible to see a wall behind the hercules on which the two calves sculpted by guglielmo della porta are exhibited. The hero personified the triumph of man's courage over the series of tests posed by the jealous gods. He, son of zeus, was allowed to achieve definitive immortality. In the classical period, his role as the savior of mankind had been heightened, but he also possessed such mortal flaws as lust and greed. Lysippus's interpretation of him mirrored these aspects of his mortal nature and gave the hero a portrait that he looked up to for the rest of antiquity. This statue represents hercules, tired at the end of his labours, resting leaning on his club, holding the golden apples stolen from the hesperides with his right hand behind his back. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less