Final answer:
John Flaxman was an English neoclassical artist known for 'Hercules in the Garden of Hesperides' (1785). Neoclassical art, influenced by Greek art and featuring heroic figures, sought to capture classical ideals, often referencing Herculean themes in various artistic endeavors.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Flaxman, known for his work 'Hercules in the Garden of Hesperides' (1785), was a neoclassical English sculptor and draughtsman. Influenced by ancient Greek art, the Hellenistic period, and neoclassical aesthetics, Flaxman's work captures the essence of heroic figures like Hercules, whose depictions in art often reference his legendary twelve labors. The Farnese Hercules sculpture, crafted by Lysippos in the 4th century BCE, is a notable representation of Hercules characteristically portraited as a stately and muscular figure embodying heroic and exaggerated physical traits to portray an idealized image typical of the era.
Neoclassical art, a reaction to the excesses of the Rococo and Baroque periods, focused on classical elements, often depicting idealized forms and values from the classical past. It finds inspiration in the works of artists like Lysippos and features themes of heroism as seen in Napoleon's portrayals or American muralists such as Thomas Hart Benton, who referenced mythological figures in their works to symbolize strength and abundance, as in the mural 'Achelous and Hercules'.