Herculus Reposing. Engraved by Thomas Worlidge. 18th Century. A Genuine Copperplate Engraving. Size: 20.5 x 27.5 cms.

Herculus Reposing. Taken from an image originally carved on green jasper in the Duke of Devonshire’s collection.

In Greek mythology Hercules was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. He is best known for completing the 12 Labours imposed on him by his master Eurystheus. These included the slaying of a twelve headed hydra, the shooting of man-eating birds, the capture of a wild bull and the bringing back of the golden apples that were kept at the world’s end.

A genuine copperplate engraving from a scarce collection of well executed images.

Printed on hand laid paper.

The print is from ‘A Select Collection of Drawings From Curious Antique Gems: Most of Them in the Possession of the Nobility and Gentry of This Kingdom; Etched After the Manner of Rembrandt.’ that was completed in 1768.

The engraving is by Thomas Worlidge (1700-1766). Worlidge was an English portrait painter and master engraver. Some of the above collection of engravings were published as early as 1754. Worlidge died before the collection was finished. The work was completed by his pupils William Grimaldi and George Powle.

Size of sheet: 20 x 27.5 cms or 7 7/8 x 10 7/8 inches.

Size of image: 10.4 x 12 cms or 4 1/16 x 4 3/4 inches.

Condition: Very Good. There are faint spots of foxing and other marks on the paper. The top edge is tanned. One corner is lightly creased. There is an original flaw in the paper along the bottom edge. The image itself remains, considering its age, fresh and clean. The image sits slightly unevenly on the surrounding sheet.