Classical Plaster Fragment - Arm of the Capitoline Hercules with the Apples of the Hesperides

A striking classical plaster fragment depicting the forearm and hand of Hercules holding the Apples of the Hesperides, taken from the celebrated Capitoline Hercules, a Roman marble version of the famous Hercules type traditionally associated with the Greek sculptor Lysippos.

The fragment captures one of the most recognisable details of the composition: the hero’s arm revealing the apples, obtained during the eleventh of his legendary labours. Even in fragmentary form the modelling is powerful, with the muscular forearm contrasting with the rendered fingers enclosing the fruit.

Plaster casts of celebrated classical sculptures were widely produced during the 19th and early 20th centuries for art academies, museums, and Grand Tour collections, allowing artists and students to study the masterpieces of antiquity. Today, fragments such as this are particularly sought after as sculptural objects in their own right, appreciated for their architectural presence and connection to classical sculpture.

Displayed on a shelf, console, or pedestal, the piece reads as a classical sculptural relic, an evocative object for collectors of Grand Tour material, neoclassical interiors, and academic plaster casts.

17.5cm (7”)