Plate 11: So-called Farnese Hercules - Jan de Bisschop

A detailed 1671 etching by Jan de Bisschop documenting the classical Farnese Hercules sculpture for study and reference.

This etching by Jan de Bisschop, a Dutch lawyer and artist, originates from his influential publication, 'Signorum Veterum Icones'. Published in 1671, this collection provided European artists with visual records of classical sculptures found in Rome. The print depicts the Farnese Hercules, a monumental marble statue of the Greek hero resting after his labours. The original sculpture, a Roman copy of a Greek original by Lysippos, was discovered in the Baths of Caracalla in 1546.

De Bisschop employs a precise etching technique to translate the three-dimensional volume of the marble into a two-dimensional plane. His use of cross-hatching and varied line weights captures the muscular anatomy of the figure, conveying the weight and physical presence of the hero. The composition focuses on the contrapposto stance, where the weight of the body shifts onto one leg, creating a naturalistic curve through the torso. The lion skin, draped over a rock support, provides a textural contrast to the smooth, taut musculature of the hero.

During the seventeenth century, such prints were essential tools for artists who could not travel to Italy to study antiquities in person. By documenting these works, de Bisschop allowed the classical canon to circulate throughout Northern Europe. The print maintains a focus on anatomical accuracy, reflecting the period's interest in the study of the human form as a basis for artistic training. The inclusion of the plate number and the artist's initials at the base indicates its function as part of a larger pedagogical series. This work remains a clear example of the intersection between classical scholarship and printmaking in the Dutch Golden Age, offering a window into how historical art was disseminated and understood by contemporaries.