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Dancing Faun
(Baroque Europe )
The faun (a creature of the woodlands in Greco-Roman mythology, identified by his horns and pointed ears) plays the cymbals and works a clapper with his right foot. Soldani made multiple versions in different sizes of this figure, a copy of a famous life-size ancient Hellenistic marble statue, which was already in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. This small size is perfect for a collector, as it can be easily picked up.
This statuette can be compared with the two groups by Soldani: "Adonis Mourned by Venus and Cupids" (Walters 54.677) and "The Dead Christ Mourned by the Virgin and an Angel" (Walters 54.1066). They all share an attention to the tactile qualities of the surface, but the others are complex pieces that demonstrate his artistic imagination and originality in composition.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Caruso Collection Sale, American Art Association, New York, 1923, no. 1003 [as Paduan]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date of aquisition unknown], by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1995 | The Allure of Bronze. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 1/9/1967 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 4/28/1976 | Treatment | repaired |
Geographies
Italy, Florence (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 11 9/16 in. (29.4 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.674