Sculpture, Sileno - 25 cm - Earthenware

Sileno – bust in patinated terracotta – 19th century

Interesting and evocative bust depicting Silenus, a figure of Greek mythology linked to the Dionysian procession, represented according to a strongly expressive iconographic tradition.

The work is made in modeled terracotta, with a dark brown patina that emphasizes the depth of the modeling and gives the surface a particularly intense and ancient appearance.

The face is characterized by vigorous and tactile workmanship: beard and hair are formed through deep and irregular plastic masses, while the features, strongly accentuated, convey the wild and Dionysian character proper to Silenus. The bust also presents free modeling, with evident traces of manual work.

In terms of stylistic characteristics, execution technique, and patina, the work appears plausibly referable to the 19th century, within Italian sculptural production inspired by antiquity and the classical-Baroque tradition.

The back and the lower part clearly show the artisanal construction of the work and the irregularities typical of a hand-modeled ancient terracotta.

Conditions: the work shows signs of time, abrasions, small losses, cracks, and surface irregularities compatible with the age and the nature of the material. It is recommended to carefully observe all photographs, which are an integral part of the description.

Era proposed: 19th century
Subject: Silenus / Dionysian figure
Material: patinated terracotta
Provenance: Italian private collection.

I would set as the title for Catawiki something more striking: “Italian School of the 19th Century – Large bust of Silenus in patinated terracotta.”