Statue of a Young Satyr Wearing a Theater Mask of Silenos
About 1st century
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
58.4 × 50.8 × 23.4 cm (23 × 20 × 9 1/4 in.)
Classification
sculpture
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
221975
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
A young satyr - a mythical creature, part human and part goat - thrusts his hand through the mouth of a theater mask of Silenus (an old satyr) in a gesture that is both mischievous and menacing. This work was likely originally paired with another statue of a child satyr, perhaps shown recoiling in fear at his companion's actions. In 1628 sculptor Alessandro Algardi added the base, tree trunk, both ears, the left leg, and part of the right leg to this statue. Collectors of this period valued com...
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...