Southern Netherlands, entourage of Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778), second half of the 18th century Hercules standing at rest Terracotta figure Resting on a fully moulded base; numbered in ink on the underside 4 H. 38 cm (15 in.) Exhibition : New York, Carlton Hobbs LLC, Tomasso Brothers Fine Art, Important European Terracottas, 2018 Bibliography: L. Lock, (entry in) Important European Terracottas, exh. cat. Tomasso Brothers Fine Art, London, 2018, pp. 72-77, no. 14. Comparative bibliography : A. Jacobs, Laurent Delvaux 1696-1778, Paris, Arthena, 1999. A terracotta figure of Hercules at rest, Southern Netherlandish, circle of Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778), second half 18th century This figure of Hercules refers to a famous Roman marble dating from the 3rd century AD, currently in the Museo Nazionale in Naples, which itself originated from a bronze sculpture dating from the 4th century BC, probably made by the Greek sculptor Lysippus of Sicyone. The Roman sculpture was discovered in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome in 1556 and acquired by Pope Paul III Farnese, hence its name Hercules Farnese. It was exhibited by the Farnese family in the arcades of the courtyard of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. This antique marble was most likely studied by Delvaux based on small bronze engravings or marble copies during his stay in England, before he observed it in person during his trip to Rome in 1728. In contrast to the vigorous modelling of the face, hair and beard, our Hercules has an anatomy that corresponds more to the rendering of a real person than to an ideal, and is therefore more akin to an exercise based on the living model than on the antique, particularly the Farnese Hercules, in which the muscles are all very exaggerated. *Information for buyers: Lot from outside the EU: The hammer price is exclusive of VAT. VAT at the reduced rate of 5.5% applies to the hammer price. This VAT is recoverable for French professionals. It is reimbursable for a buyer from outside the EU on presentation of proof of export from the EU or for a professional bidder providing proof of an intra-Community VAT number and a document proving delivery in the Member State. *Information to the buyers : Lot from outside the EU : The hammer price and premium will be VAT excluded. 5.5% VAT will be added to the hammer price and premium. Upon request, this VAT can be refunded to the purchaser on presentation of written proof of exportation outside EU, or to the EU purchaser who will submit his intracommunity VAT number and a proof of shipment to an EU country.