Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Barberini Faun


OK, I can hear you from here! Yes, this is obscene, but... it's art! This statue is called Le faune Barberini and it is usually to be seen in the Glyptothek in Munich, Germany, but at the moment you can see it in Paris, in the Louvre museum. This guy is a Satyr, that is, according to the greek mythology, a human with animal features (I wonder which ones!). See more about the Barberini Faun in Wikipedia.

43 comments:

  1. Indeed, not much is left to the imagination. But it is art. And I would much rather see this at the Louvre than a McCafe, however "high class" the McC might be!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not obscene at all. How long will it be at the Louvre?

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is art. More then some modern art pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I bet I could guess which ones... That section of the Louvre is amazing. The sculptures are impressive to say the least. You truly captured the beauty of the piece. --M

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my!
    That's an incredible one or unexpected picture today :)
    If I dare to say it... very offering?
    Wow.
    Eric is playing with us, isn't he?
    Yesterday and today pictures are suggestive, n'est-ce pas?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, how lovely is that! I bet all of Paris is clamoring over it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I must be obscene, he-he, because I find this to be quite beautiful Eric!

    ReplyDelete
  8. and put the other goy boy next to him, The David! Pornographic? I don't think so.
    Let it rain men, Halleluyah!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Someone should give him a robe. It will be like the movie 300

    ReplyDelete
  10. OOOh I say.... :)
    This is art indeed. More so than piles of rusty metal etc. It's beautiful.
    Lynn, get over here. See what you're missing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Wikipedia history is fascinating: that is was found in Castel Sant'Angelo as a Barberini Pope was renovating the castle is really fun. I walked by both Palazzo Barberini and Castel Sant'Angelo in May, though did not enter either--this time.

    From sultry temptress to a faun, we're (un)covering all perspectives here!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, let's get Lynn's opinion. Eric, you know when you're provoking us don't you?

    But it is exquisite, not obscene at all.

    ReplyDelete
  13. he he Oh my. My, my. :) It is beautiful. Not obscene.

    I KNEW you'd posted something...interesting, Eric. A little birdie gave me the heads up. I KNEW it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Whether this was carved in the 2nd or 3rd century BCE or is a Roman copy, that's a long time he's been nursing his hangover. He's fortunate he didn't go from being a satyr to being a eunuch—not all such ancient statuary has managed to keep all their, um, parts. Glad to got to see this while it's in Paris, Eric, and that you shared it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Eiffel Tower!
    Eiffel Tower!!
    Eiffel Tower!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yeah, I wouldn't be using the word "obscene" to describe that statue, unless maybe you moved to Baghdad or something, no offense.

    ReplyDelete
  17. But the Wikipedia article says that this statue is a copy by Edme Bouchardon. The original partially restored statue by an unknown sculptor is in the Munich museum. I think the Louvre statue has been there for some time?

    But, it does seem to be a beautiful piece of art.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Alexa - if you go on Wikipedia, you'll see that the original is indeed missing some parts of its original bits! It must be a wee lesson in the healing arts -- nurse a hangover long enough and you'll turn out better than before! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tomate Loool !

    With this photo, Eric is obviously trying to "balance" yesterday picture ;-)
    And he is successful as it's only 8.20 am, and there are already more comments than yesterday all day...
    Why, why why ??
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Buzzgirl: I think you're right, he wasn't Jewish. If he was, his parents ought to get a refund.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well, it's not like he has a future as a porn star. Just another dude with his bare ass on my nice, clean wolfskin chair... hey! Now, how am I gonna clean that, mister?! Wake up! Come on, buddy! Dagnabbit...

    ReplyDelete
  22. As a porn star, probably not. I think he's probably too laid back.

    ReplyDelete
  23. A satyr has goat legs, fur and a tail... Here it's a faun, basically, a man in a lascivious posture (that can be considered like a second definition). Obviously!

    A satyr is part of the crew which follow Dionysos (the "thiase" in French), ith the menads.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Désolé pour les anglophones mais c'est sur la version française de Wikipedia que se trouve la solution des attributs animaliers du Faune de Barberini : "La statue représente un satyre, mais il faut faire preuve d'attention pour ne pas y voir un simple jeune homme : ses oreilles pointues, sa queue à peine visible au bas du dos, sa couronne de lierre et sa nébride (peau de panthère) ne sont pas apparents au premier abord", photo en prime...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Carrie -- I was being lazy (and that'll teach me to try to rely on what I think I know). Should I wonder if the woman who made this copy was thinking good thoughts or bad when she reinstated his missing bits (pour les francais, pun intended)?
    USElaine -- LOL!
    Guille (hola!) & Stéphane -- merci pour les bonnes explications.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Good grief Eric, you really know how to wake a girl up don't you!!! Let me get a plane ticket, I can be there by tomorrow!!! Sigh........ Maybe I'll have just another quick peek. :)
    V

    ReplyDelete
  27. Only a prudish moron can find art to be obscene!

    ReplyDelete
  28. OMG that's freakin gorgeous! They just don't make'm like that anymore. Definately woke me up this morning. Thank you for your beautiful photos!!! You've been on a really good roll these last few days! Merci! Valorie

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh wow!

    That is one interesting art form. I think it is gonna cast a very strong impression in my mind! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Goodness what have you done to me, Eric? You must have awakened my antennae ... I shall post later...;)

    ReplyDelete
  31. The "Classic Physique". (Before steroids or other body enhancement methods in use now.) The perfect body is truly a work of art. The man's pose is typical. Many men sit with their legs apart, unlike most women. It's all about body language.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Somehow I knew this photo would be successful. Wonder why...

    @Cali. "How long will it be at the Louvre?" I have no idea, sorry.

    @Megan "You truly captured the beauty of the piece" Didn't IT?!

    @Flore "Yesterday and today pictures are suggestive, n'est-ce pas?" Well, yeah... ;)

    @Buzzgirl "Sooooo...he's not Jewish, then?" LOOOOOL!

    @Lynn "I KNEW you'd posted something...interesting, Eric. A little birdie gave me the heads up. I KNEW it. ;)" I was sure, you would find it soon enough!

    @Alexa "He's fortunate he didn't go from being a satyr to being a eunuch" LOL

    @Tomate "Eiffel Tower! Eiffel Tower!! Eiffel Tower!!!" LOOOOOOL

    @Joanna "I think the Louvre statue has been there for some time? " Ooops you must be right. Shame on me I should have checked better...

    @Thib "Why, why why ??" Yes, Why, why why ??

    @Guille "A satyr is part of the crew which follow Dionysos (the "thiase" in French), ith the menads." Wow, I'm impressed. Thank you for such precision ;) And apparently Stephane (below you) has found another definition of Satyrs.

    @Virginia "Eric, you really know how to wake a girl up don't you!!! You have no idea!

    @Valorie "You've been on a really good roll these last few days! Merci! Thanks. that is encouraging. Sometimes I really wonder.

    @Lois "It's all about body language." The one that is universal...

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dammit, I knew I missed something good yesterday.

    I don't think it's obscene at all - but I seriously wonder how you guys walk around all day with those things.

    ReplyDelete
  34. lol you know me well, Eric.

    Looking at it again (and again and again) I find the pose really quite shocking - I mean, it's really in your face isn't it? :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well, better late than never. He looks just fine to me.

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is not the original Barberini Faun that was made around 200 B.C.
    This is a copy made by a French sculptor in the 18th c.

    Advertising the wrong thing... The original is in Germany. The copy is at the Louvre.

    ReplyDelete