The Belvedere Torso at the Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican

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The Belvedere Torso is a fragment of a nude male statue that boasts a prominent signature on the front of its base from "Apollonios, son of Nestor, Athenian", an individual who remains a mysterious figure in ancient literature. This masterpiece is now proudly displayed at the Museo Pio-Clementino (Inv. 1192) within the Vatican Museums' vast collection. The figure has traditionally been identified as Heracles, seated on an animal skin, although recent studies have revealed that the skin may actually belong to a panther rather than the Nemean lion, sparking further debate and alternative identifications. Historians once believed that this statue was created in the 1st century BC, but now it is widely accepted to be a copy from either the 1st or 2nd century AD of an even older statue, which likely dates back to the early 2nd century BC. The seated figure on the animal hide remains open to interpretation (possible identities include Hercules, Polyphemus, and Marsyas, among others). The Belvedere Torso's twisted pose and muscular physique had a profound impact on late Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo's admiration for the Belvedere Torso was well-known during his lifetime, earning it the nickname "The School of Michelangelo".