Hercules Supporting the Heavens

Ferdinando Tacca, probably after a model by Pietro Tacca

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a muscular male figure in a bent-over position, supporting a large globe on his shoulders. The figure is nude, emphasizing the detailed musculature and physical strain of holding the globe, which is textured with decorative bands. The sculpture is made from a dark bronze material. The man is depicted in a dynamic pose, with one knee slightly bent and the other leg forward. The sculpture stands on a rocky base.