Bacchante Riding a Goat
Medium
Pale buff terracotta
Dimensions
Height: 15 3/4 in. (40 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Charles Ulrick and Josephine Bay Foundation Inc. Gift, 1975
Accession Number
1975.312.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philippe Roland's *Bacchante Riding a* (1796) captures the exuberant spirit of classical mythology. Crafted in Paris during the late 18th century this 15¾-inch (40 cm) pale buff terracotta sculpture depicts achante—a fervent female follower of Bacchus the Roman god of wine—astride a lively goat. The dynamic pose evokes the wild revelry and ecstasy associated with Dionysian rites, blending whimsy with ancient tradition. Terracotta, a fired clay medium valued for its earthy warmth and malleability, allow...