"Faun Barberini" - a sample of homoerotic art

Hlipoteca Munich since 1804 began to collect sculptures, reliefs, mosaics that date back to the archaic period until the time of the late Rome. Her collection includes classical Hellenistic artifacts, Roman sculptures, antique works in their highest heyday. Among the latter one of the prominent places is occupied by the "Faun Barberini" or "Drunken Satyr", as it is also called.

Where the sculpture was created

In the years 283-133 BC. E. In Asia Minor, not far from the shores of the Aegean Sea, there was a powerful capital called Pergamum. It flourished the art of architects and sculptors. The Romans conquered the city and the eponymous kingdom, making it their province. All that seemed to them the most valuable, they were taken to Rome. Among other things was the figure of a sleeping drunken faun, as the Romans called satyrs, created around 220 BC. Where they placed it, it is not known, but it is precisely known where and when it was found.

Location

Under the onslaught of the barbarians, by the four hundredth year, Rome had weakened. To strengthen the city, everything was used. Including sculptures. "Faun Barberini", the perfect creation of unknown masters from Pergamum, did not escape this fate. In 1620, he was found near the place where the castle of Saint Angel is now. German art historian Winckelmann suggested that the statue belonged to Emperor Hadrian, a fan of unconventional sexual orientation, which in those days was very close to normal. "Faun Barberini" extremely frankly demonstrates his genitals, because he was found near the mausoleum of the emperor.

Where did the satyr come in?

The pious family of Barberini transferred the faun into the collection of Pope Urban VIII, who came from the Barberini family and to whom Francesco Barberini was an uncle. Secular power in Europe refused to reckon with the pontiff. His moral authority was lower than any criticism. Such an outspoken sculpture as the "Fawn of Barberini" was the only place in the personal collection of the Pope. All the family and the pontiff actively patronized the arts. So, for example, they supported the outstanding sculptor and architect D. Bernini, the creator of the new Baroque style. Since the satyr had numerous injuries and his expressive obscene posture brought him closer to the aesthetics of the Baroque, it was believed that Bernini himself partially restored it. In the following centuries, many sculptors worked on its restoration.

Repurchase of the statue and its copies

Before the second invasion of Napoleon in Italy in 1799, his younger brother was offered to acquire a satire. A judicial scandal broke out against the export of the statue. Especially hotly protested Canova. Contrary to the ban, "Faun Barberini" was sold to Germany. There was already built a glipoteka, in which he was found an honorable place.

Numerous copies were made from the statue. The marble statue of the Hellenistic era has become very popular. The Louvre has its copy of high quality, which was made by the sculptor E. Bushardon. She found a place in Russia. Peterhof Great Cascade gives a zest gilded statue of a faun in the grotto.

The satyr came from Greek mythology. This forest deity, apparently, is very ancient. Then the Hellenes animated all objects: stones, trees, animals, that is, shamanism flourished. Faun was associated with fertility in the broadest sense, and therefore the huge phallus is its important accessory. Bearded, hairy, goat-legged, eternally drunk and lascivious, they pursued the nymphs and maenads. Norms of morality for them did not exist. Their attributes were tiers, pipe, and leather bellows for wine. The statue of a sleeping satyr is not at all like a faun.

Roman deity

A benevolent and kind faun is an Italian deity who has adopted the features of the Greek god Pan. Faun - mountain, forest and field spirit, responsible for the fertility of fields and people. This forest god loves to settle in caves near the creeks, the keys - the sources of all kinds of water. The Romans adopted the humanoid image of the faun from the Greeks, where all the deities were anthropomorphic.

Sculpture of Barberini

Their faun is depicted as a human being, which is already a deviation from the norm. He obviously looked over the wine at the feast. But the faun is still not a man: his tail looks out from behind his left hip.

The statue is very significant not only as a work of art, but also because it dates from two centuries before the birth of Christ. Perhaps it is a Greek original, or maybe a later Roman copy. These moments are always difficult to determine. The statue was badly damaged. I had to restore the right leg and foot, the lower part of the left hip. The sculpture is extremely erotic, maybe that's why many sought to buy a faun. His legs are set apart, he is in a drunken wake. It seems that he is tired to the limit. At the same time, the body of the faun is somewhat tense.

The face of the faun is very sensual, the head with horns is rejected. The sculptor made a thorough study of human anatomy and worked muscles, shoulders, abdomen. The sculptor turned the whole body slightly, making his work more complicated. Ultimate naturalism, emotional state, study of the human body - these are the tasks that faced the sculptor. He laid the faun figure on the leopard skin, put the faunal heel on it and turned it under his head for a better rest. This marble statue has all the signs of the work of the Hellenistic era.