Caption

Terracotta figurine of Silenus, Silenus mythology; terracotta. Figurine of an obese Silenus sitting on a rock. The figurine is hollow inside, open at the bottom. The back is only roughly worked, with a large, triangular opening. The clay is red, strongly and unevenly fired; the surface is light, cracked, and mostly chipped. The idol sits frontally, with thighs widely spread and feet crossed. The belly is sagging. The right arm rests with its elbow on the thigh, the forearm and hand stretched slightly downward. The left hand holds a waterskin resting on the rock and the side of the thigh. The small head, slightly lowered, turns to the left and downward, towards the waterskin. Silenus is partially covered by a chlamys, fastened at the right shoulder and thrown back over the left arm; the lower torso and legs are bare. Schematic modeling; head, arms, legs and waterskin rendered synthetically, with a tendency to accentuate volume. Numerous chips and surface flaking. Wide crack in the base on the left side of the figurine and at the back near the opening. 332–30 BC; Hellenistic period; sculpture; height 7 cm., A roughly textured clay object with an irregular, rounded form sits against a plain gray background; the object shows a mix of earthy brown and beige tones with patches of lighter cream, an uneven surface with pitted areas and smooth bulging masses, rounded protrusions and concave indentations suggesting layered lumps, and a subtle reflection of the object visible on a glossy surface beneath it.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A02_346

License type

Rights managed

Available size

68.9Mb (1.4Mb) / 15.5in x 17.3in / 4648 x 5182 (300dpi)

Keywords

Terracotta figurine Silenus Silenus mythology terracotta Figurine obese Silenus sitting rock figurine hollow inside open bottom back roughly worked large triangular opening clay red strongly unevenly fired surface light cracked mostly chipped idol sits frontally thighs widely spread feet crossed belly sagging right arm rests elbow thigh forearm hand stretched slightly downward left hand holds waterskin resting side small head slightly lowered turns left downward towards waterskin partially covered chlamys fastened right shoulder thrown back left arm lower torso legs bare Schematic modeling head arms rendered synthetically tendency accentuate volume Numerous chips surface flaking Wide crack base left side back near opening 332–30 Bc Hellenistic period sculpture height 7 cm roughly textured clay object irregular rounded form sits plain gray background object mix earthy brown beige tones patches lighter cream uneven surface pitted areas smooth bulging masses rounded protrusions concave indentations suggesting layered lumps subtle reflection object visible glossy beneath .