Hercules Pomarius

Willem Danielsz van Tetrode (c. 1525–before 1588), bronze, c. 1567–1580

The sculptor was inspired by a colossal ancient marble known as the Hercules Farnese. Unlike its model, Tetrode’s Hercules radiates aggression and vigilance. He stands with his legs spread, concealing golden apples behind his back– a wedding gift to chief god Jupiter and his wife, Juno, which he had stolen by ruse. Hercules holds his right hand, clutching the club, low behind him, ready to swing.

Artwork typefigure
Object numberBK-1954-43-1
Dimensionsheight 39.3 cm

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Mercury

Missing Title

Identification

Title(s)
Hercules Pomarius
Object type
Object number
BK-1954-43-1
Description
The sculptor was inspired by a colossal ancient marble known as the Hercules Farnese. Unlike its model, Tetrode’s Hercules radiates aggression and vigilance. He stands with his legs spread, concealing golden apples behind his back– a wedding gift to chief god Jupiter and his wife, Juno, which he had stolen by ruse. Hercules holds his right hand, clutching the club, low behind him, ready to swing.
Part of catalogue
Catalogue reference
Robert van Langh en J.J. Boon, 'Comprehensive studies of patinas in Renaissance bronze statuettes with laboratory, synchrotron an neutron aided techniques', 17th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference Preprints, Melbourne, 15-19 september 2014.

Creation

Creation
- modelleur: Willem Danielsz. van Tetrode, Italy
- caster: Willem Danielsz. van Tetrode, Delft
- caster: Willem Danielsz. van Tetrode, Cologne
Dating
c. 1562 - c. 1567
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Material and technique

Material
Technique
Dimensions
height 39.3 cm

This work is about

Subject

Acquisition and rights

Acquisition
purchase 1954
Ownership
Copyright
Public domain
Provenance
…; collection Alexandre de Frey, Lucerne, date unknown; from the dealer H. Heilbronner, Lucerne, fl. 3,523, to the museum, 1954; stolen from the museum on 17 October 1968;…; retrieved during a sale at Christie´s in Zürich (sale Philippe Schuler Versteigerungen AG) and returned to the museum through the mediation of Thomas Boller (Sotheby´s), 1997{F. Scholten, `Willem van Tetrode: Lost and Found´, _Kunstschrift_ 41 (1997) 3, p. 5.}

Documentation

- Robert van Langh en J.J. Boon, 'Comprehensive studies of patinas in Renaissance bronze statuettes with laboratory, synchrotron an neutron aided techniques', 17th ICOM-CC Triennial Conference Preprints, Melbourne, 15-19 september 2014.
- Jaarverslag Rijksmuseum (1968), p. 23.
- E.J.B.D. van Binnebeke, 'Willem Danielsz van Tetrode : de Delftse Praxiteles. Een studie naar het leven en werk van een zestiende-eeuwse Nederlandse beeldhouwer, Utrecht 2003, ongepubliceerde dissertatie, Universiteit van Utrecht, nr. 16.
- J. Baum, 'Les Bronzes italiens et flamands de la collection Alexandre de Frey', Pro Arte VI (1947), p. 483, afb. 484.
- Jaarverslag Rijksmuseum (1954), p. 14.
- Chr. Theuerkauff, Pantheon 27 (1969), p. 352.