This clay model depicts the so-called Farnese Hercules, a marble statue from the 3rd century A.D. by Lysippos or his school. The Hercules was first recorded by Aldrovandi in 1556, whilst it was still at Palazzo Farnese. It remained on display in the courtyard until 1787 when it was removed to the studio of Carlo Albacini to be restored. It was then moved to Naples, and by 1792 was in the Museo degli Studi (later Museo Borbonico, now Museo Archeologico Nazionale).
The terracotta, made with a light ivory coloured clay, was modelled and finished with a cloth that has left a mottled effect on the surface, like skin, while light plays off the marks on the clay left by a tooth-edged tool. Cavaceppi has sought to represent the strained anatomical structure of Hercules by trying to softly graduate the musculature. Small-scale versions of the Farnese Hercules were hugely popular from the 16th century, and the marble was copied by numerous artists over the centuries. Zoffoli and Righetti sold bronze replicas.

Maria Giulia Barberini