Bust of a Satyr
1770/75
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
15.8 × 15.3 × 8 cm (6 3/16 × 6 × 3 1/8 in.); Base: 10.8 × 11.4 cm (4 5/16 × 4 1/2 in.)
Classification
bust/head
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
89236
Art Historical Context
Clodion, born Claude Michel (17381814), was a master French sculptor renowned for his terracotta figures during the late Rococo period. Created around 1770–75, this *Bust of a Satyr* exemplifies his playful interpretation of classical mythology. Fashioned from terracotta—a versatile, reddish-brown clay favored for its malleability—this small-scale work (just 15.8 × 15.3 × 8 cm) captures the mischievous spirit of a satyr, the half-man, half-goat companion of Dionysus, known for revelry and earthy desires. Terracotta was Clodion's preferred medium for bozzetti, or sculptural sketches, allowing ...