Fine Pair of C19th 'Grand Tour' Souvenir Bronze Reductions , After the Antique , of the Capitoline Fauns by Barbedienne.

Fine pair of C19th 'Grand Tour ' souvenir bronze reductions , after the antique, of fauns by Barbedienne .

Smart pair of bronze figures cast and signed by the esteemed Parisian foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne. The original pair of marble statues from classical antiquity , now separately housed in the Capitoline Museum, Rome ,Italy , and The Louvre , Paris , France .

The faun or satyr holding the horn , known as the The Faun of Praxiteles , or 'The Resting Satyr' , is believed to be a Hadrianatic Roman copy of a Greek statue . The marble original was given to the Capitoline Museum by Pope Benedict XIV in 1753.

The faun statue playing the flute was certainly in the Villa Borghese by 1638 , where it remained until 1807 when it was purchased , together with the bulk of the Borghese antiquities by Napoleon Bonaparte. It was sent to the Musee de Louvre , where it remains on display today. In the C18th it was much revered and admired by travellers to Rome completing ‘The Grand Tour’ and was frequently reproduced and sold as souvenirs to the wealthy tourists.

In mythology, fauns were enchanted woodland dwelling creatures associated with Bacchus and the Greek God Pan . The inclusion of musical instrument imagery signifies the connection of the fauns as followers of Bacchus or Dionysus, God of wine and merry-making , whilst the panther's skin or leopard's pelt over their shoulder alludes to their animal or beastly nature .

The bronze foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne was established in Paris in 1838 , and produced renowned quality reductions of sculptures from Greek and Roman antiquity.

Excellent quality bronze castings with superb original 'chocolate brown' colour and consistent patina , with no rubbing.

Both signed by Barbedienne to the reverse of their integral plinth bases .

The production of this type of classical bronze casting by the Barbedienne Foundry was halted temporarily in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century , when the Franco -Prussian War necessitated the production of cannon . These bronzes pre-date that period .

H 8"

W 3"

D 2"

France c. 1860

Established in the Cathedral City of Worcester for over 40 years ,M.Lees&Sons , run by Michael Lees ,have been dealing with public and trade from show-rooms in an early Georgian town-house. We aim to provide a straight-forward approach to our business and build lasting relationships with our customers. As members of the 'London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association' , we provide full descriptive details , date ,authenticity and any available provenance ,with full disclosure of any restoration or repair which may have taken place .

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Located in the centre of Worcester in the shadow of the Cathedral with easy parking nearby. Exit Junction 7 M5 and follow the signs for Worcester Porcelain Museum . Our premises are located 100 metres from the Museum and 50 metres from Pay&Display car-park in nearby King St.