The Farnese Hercules (Grisaille Paintings of Classical Statuary: a set of eight reproductions of celebrated antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees, etc.)
Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705 - 1772)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1765 (signed and dated)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
978 x 730 mm (38 1/2 x 28 3/4 in)
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 872546
Caption
The Farnese Hercules was rediscovered at the Baths of Caracella in Rome in 1546, was owned by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and had its own room in his palace in Rome. This is one of a set of eight paintings of celebrated classical antique marble statues from ancient Greek statuary, painted in grisaille (grey-green monochrome colour) by Louis-Gabriel Blanchet in 1765 with the addition of niches, pedestals and trees. The set was probably commissioned as souvenirs, by John Parker, MP (1734/5 – 1788) during his Grand Tour of Italy, with his first wife, in 1764, and may have occupied a garden building at Saltram.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Farnese Hercules (Grisaille Paintings of Classical Statuary: a set of eight reproductions of celebrated antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees, etc.) by Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705-1772). One of a set of eight paintings of classical statuary. All are framed in 18th century moulded and white painted frames, but of various dimensions. Reproductions of celebrated Antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees etc.
Provenance
History not known, but from their date probably commissioned by John Parker, later Lord Boringdon, on his Grand Tour; then, from the absence of any reference to them in catalogues or inventories and their plain white frames, probably set into the walls of some garden building; given to the National Trust as part of the endowment by Montagu Brownlow Parker, 5th Earl of Morley (1878-1962)
Credit line
Saltram, The Morley Collection (The National Trust)
Makers and roles
Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705 - 1772) , artist
References
Haskell and Penny 1981: Francis Haskell and Nicholas Penny, Taste and the Antique, The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500 - 1900, New Haven and London, 1981, 46