It was his first attempt at modelling.
"His original intention was simply to complete such parts of the figure as were useful in the single view necessary for the purpose of painting; but, having done this, he was encouraged, by the approbation of Allston and other artists, to finish the entire figure.
"After completing it, he had it cast in plaster of Paris and carried it to show to West, who seemed more than pleased with it.

After surveying it all round critically, with many exclamations of surprise, he sent his servant to call his son Raphael.

As soon as Raphael made his appearance West pointed to the figure and said: 'Look there, sir; I have always told you any painter can make a sculptor.' "From this model Morse painted his picture of the 'Dying Hercules,' of colossal size, and sent it, in May, 1813, to the Royal Academy Exhibition at Somerset House." The picture was well received.

A critic of one of the journals of that day in speaking of the Royal Academy thus notices Morse:-- "Of the academicians two or three have distinguished themselves in a preeminent degree; besides, few have added much to their fame, perhaps they have hardly sustained it.

But the great feature in this exhibition is that it presents several works of very high merit by artists with whose performances, and even with whose names, we were hitherto unacquainted.