Head of Hercules

Giuseppe Girometti

second quarter 19th century · Sardonyx · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An agate cameo also signed by Girometti with Hercules’ head reversed is in the Vatican’s Museo Gregoriano Profano. In this sardonyx version four strata were deployed: the plummy brown of the Nemean lion’s mask is defined against the blush of Hercules’ cheek, which in turn sets off the paler flesh of the hero’s profile and the white of the beast’s fang and paw.

Artist

Giuseppe Girometti

Date

second quarter 19th century

Medium

Sardonyx

Culture

Italian, Rome

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Milton Weil Collection, 1940