Hercules Resting

Hercules Resting by Paul Cézanne (French, 1839-1906) after Pierre Puget (French, 1620-1694) is a powerful graphite drawing executed in 1897. This late-period drawing exemplifies the Post-Impressionist master's enduring dedication to the rigorous study of the human form, even when utilizing historical sources. The subject is drawn from the celebrated Baroque sculpture of the fatigued mythological hero created by the 17th-century French sculptor Pierre Puget. Rendered in graphite on ivory wove paper, the drawing focuses on the essential geometry and muscular volume of the figure rather than smooth, academic finish.

The practice of copying old masters was critical to Cézanne's artistic methodology, allowing him to analyze complex forms and movement. Here, the artist employs a series of deliberate, short strokes and heavy contours to build up the mass of the resting figure. This approach transforms the study into an intense formal exercise, demonstrating how Cézanne sought to integrate the historical solidity of sculpture with his modern search for spatial depth and pictorial structure.

This exceptional drawing, created in France late in the artist’s career, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum classifies the work as crucial evidence of Cézanne's investigation into sculptural monumentality, a principle that underpinned his unique contribution to modern art. Though a preparatory study, the piece is recognized for its immediate authority. High-quality prints of this seminal work, which is now considered to be in the public domain, continue to be used as important references for the study of draughtsmanship and modern formal analysis.