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Hercules

John Flaxman

1790

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Mythology

Dominant colour

Hercules is a 1790 graphite by John Flaxman, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Flaxman
When & what style?: 1790 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a muscular man holding a club in one hand and a lion’s pelt draped over his shoulder. His body is twisted slightly, with one leg bent and the other straight. The lines are loose and quick, like a rough draft. The drawing looks unfinished, with light shading and no background details. That’s because it’s a study—artists often made quick sketches to practice shapes before painting. Next, check out Romanticism to see how this style used emotion and myth.