Taddeo Zuccaro, The Choice of Hercules, ca. 1543-1566, pen and brown ink, brown wash, black chalk on paper, 9 in. x 7 9/16 in. (22.9 cm. x 19.2 cm.), Long considered to be the work of Federico Zuccaro (1540/41--1609), this drawing is now attributed to his brother, Taddeo, and might have served as a study for a fresco in the Loggia of the Belvedere in the Vatican, mentioned by his biographer Giorgio Vasari (1511--1574). The fresco of the Labors of Hercules was destroyed under Pope Paul IV. In the drawing, Taddeo shows a young man in deep contemplation, confronted with two women between whom he is forced to choose. Most likely this is a representation of Hercules deciding between Virtue, who gestures toward reason, and Vice, who tempts the lad with her sensual appeal. For Federico and Taddeo Zuccaro, the art of drawing became a matter of inspiration and aesthetic judgment as much as a demonstration of knowledge in anatomy, classical literature, and technical skills. This image reflects this new appreciation of the conceptual underpinnings of drawing, the 'disegno.'
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Taddeo Zuccaro, Choice, Hercules, ca. 1543-1566, pen, brown ink, brown wash, black chalk, paper, 9 . x 7 9/16, 22.9 cm. x 19.2 cm., Long considered, work, Federico Zuccaro, 1540/41--1609, drawing, now attributed, brother, Taddeo, might, served, study, fresco, Loggia, Belvedere, Vatican, mentioned, biographer Giorgio Vasari, 1511--1574, fresco, Labors, Hercules, destroyed under Pope Paul IV., drawing, Taddeo, young man, deep contemplation, confronted, two women, whom, forced, choose., representation, Hercules deciding, Virtue, gestures, reason, Vice, tempts, lad, sensual appeal., Federico, Taddeo Zuccaro, art, drawing, matter, inspiration, aesthetic judgment, demonstration, knowledge, anatomy, classical literature, technical skills., image reflects, new appreciation, conceptual underpinnings, drawing, 'disegno.'
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