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The Farnese Hercules

Jacob Bos

1562

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

The Farnese Hercules is a 1562 ink by Jacob Bos, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacob Bos
When & what style?: 1562 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a muscular man lying on a rock, his body twisted in a dramatic pose. His left arm stretches out while his right arm holds a club. A lion’s head peeks out from under his arm, and his face is turned slightly upward. The background has geometric shapes and lines, giving it a structured, almost architectural feel. The artist used fine lines and shading to show the muscles and shadows. This style makes the figure look three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one used metal plates to create detailed prints.