As the recipient of a commission from catherine the great of russia in 1785 for a history subject of his choice, reynolds selected an episode from the early life of hercules. The child of zeus and alcmene, hercules attracted the wrath of zeus’s wife hera, who sent snakes to kill him in his crib. The babe strangled the reptiles, demonstrating his uncommon strength and remarkable destiny from this early hour. The subject was intended to flatter the ruler of an emerging european power. This sketch is believed to be a preparatory study for the large history painting that was displayed at the royal academy in 1788 before being sent to russia. Reynolds is said to have painted an actual baby, and he adapted his sketch later for a little painting of the baby puck. Date: circa 1785-89. Dimensions: height: 25.5 cm (10 in); width: 21 cm (8.2 in); frame: height: 35 cm (13.7 in); width: 30.5 cm (12 in). Medium: oil on millboard. Collection: Princeton University Art Museum. Reynolds, Sir Joshua, The Infant Hercules, ca. 1785-89
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