Anonymous - Head of Hercules - Drawing from the Plaster Cast

Caption: Bust of Hercules, from the plaster cast

Artist: Anonymous

Medium: Charcoal on paper

Dated: undated; circa late 19th Century

I keep finding these little gems on eBay France. This evening I found and bought this beautiful 19th century drawing of Hercules from the plaster cast. Before a student was allowed to draw the nude from life he had to complete a series of sight-size drawings from the plaster cast. This is a beautiful example 0f 19th century cast drawing. Not technically a nude but well worth adding to the collection as an example of the technical expertise acquired by the Artist in the late 19th century Academe. This drawing came from Paris and was most probably from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. It has some minor foxing and a bit of worm hole damage but still a beautiful work of art.