Hendrik Goltzius spent between 1592 and 1594 in Rome, where he devoted himself to “industriously copying the most important ancient statues,” in the words of one biographer. He would later translate three of these drawings into exquisite engravings. This statue represents Hercules, the divinity with whom Emperor Commodus (reigned 180–192 CE) associated himself to further legitimize his power. Goltzius may have intended to produce a larger series, as there was a dearth of reliable prints of ancient statuary for artists’ use in the late sixteenth century.