Italian

Hercules and Lichas

1600–1625
Bronze
35.6 × 35.6 cm (14 × 14 in)

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● On view now — Gallery 205

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Both this bronze and it’s companion depict the legendary labors of Hercules, a frequent subject in Renaissance and later art. The figures may derive from a lost series of silver statuettes after models by sculptor Giambologna and were likely cast by his leading workshop assistant, Pietro Tacca. They reflect Giambologna’s intense preoccupation with the human form in motion, which transforms a violent struggle into a ballet.

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