Rondanini Faun, Marble statue in British Museum, Camden, England
The Rondanini Faun is a marble statue approximately 175 centimeters high that depicts a dancing figure with raised arms and a sense of dynamic motion. The work combines ancient sculptural elements with Baroque artistic techniques, creating a composition that captures movement and elegance.
The French artist François Duquesnoy created this marble work between 1625 and 1630, using an ancient torso fragment and adding new limbs and a head in his own style. This approach of combining classical fragments with new artistic additions was typical of Baroque practice and reflected the period's reverence for ancient art.
The sculpture depicts a mythological faun that blends ancient Greek artistic traditions with Baroque sculptural methods. This combination of different artistic periods makes the figure a distinctive example of how artists engaged with classical subjects.
The sculpture is on display at the British Museum in the Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory. Visitors should note that object locations can shift, so checking the current display placement before your visit helps you locate it more efficiently.
The work takes its name from Palazzo Rondanini in Rome, where it remained for centuries before entering the British Museum collection. This Italian connection shows how important historical locations are for naming and tracking artworks throughout their journeys.
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