THE DANCING FAUN OF POMPEII

After the model of Antiquity
Grand Tour, Italy cast ca. 1880
With a fine verdigris patination and "ancient" surface treatment

31" H x 11 1/4" W x 10" D

The present cast of Dancing Faun was expertly cast using the lost-wax method, chiseled and chased to bring out the ruddy textures and patinated in a manner that simulates the textures on the bronze garnered by exposure to the elements. It is cast specifically in such a way that authentically captures the essence of an archeological find: open "cracks" and pieced plates in the extremities and a deeply accreted finish with intense texture and verdigris give the viewer the sense of a newly dug treasure.

Rarely do we find such a pleasing example of this model - a very fine acquisition.

Condition: Nuanced patina showing natural wear and rubbing, notably around edges of the base and to raised elements. The "cracks" in the arms are not actual structural damage but rather an intentional part of the cast (not along or near seams or joints). Carefully cleaned to completely preserve the original contrasting matte and silky translucency of the patina.

Essay:
Dancing Faun is one of the most renowned and truly iconic bronze sculptures to survive from ancient Rome. It was unearthed in 1830 during excavations of the House of the Faun in Pompeii and is believed to date to the 2nd century BCE. Once discovered, the fame of the small figure was nearly instantaneous, creating a sensation that gave the name to the house it was found in (House of the Dancing Faun, Pompeii). Its reputation was no doubt heightened by the many exquisite reproductions made of the model and sold to wealthy Grand Tourists - a reproduction by Fonderia Sommer was installed in the House of the Dancing Faun, allowing visitors to have a sense of how visitors to the house would have encountered the sculpture. Cast in bronze using the lost-wax technique, the faun would have been an expensive commission, likely intended to display the wealth and cultural refinement of the villa’s owner. Though Roman, the figure is almost certainly a copy of a Hellenistic work.

The sculpture depicts a faun captured in an energetic dance. The figure’s twisting contrapposto torso, raised arms, and lifted heel give it a sense of movement and spontaneity that reflects the artistic interests of the period, especially the fascination with expressive and lifelike forms. An early catalog of the Naples museum noting the figure as being ecstatic and not inebriated, like most faun depictions, no doubt helped ease its introduction into collections and homes.

The original sculpture is held in the permanent collection of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.

Literature:
Taste and the Antique, Haskell & Penny, Yale, 1981, p. 208-209, fig. 107

ref. 512PNP07D