Terracotta high relief, 18th Century

Quand la jovialité enfantine se mêlent aux plaisirs dyonisiaques.

Terra-cotta haut relief clay blending child games and Dionysian pleasures.

Who are these children laughing and playing?

Before addressing the Bacchanalian activity among the putti harvesting wine grapes and the representation of Pan as the bearded old man with goat-like feet then all the creatures making up the cortege of Bacchus; this haut relief depicts primarily mischievous children.

The Italian term putti refers to little chubby and plump children with laughing and happy faces. The figure of the putto was born in ancient Greek art in the guise of Cupid or cherub. It was rediscovered and used in Italian art during the Quattrocento. At the advent of the Quattrocento, they were one of the main features of architectural ornamentation. Putti can be found in the art of Donatello. These laughing, chubby children were adapted with great importance in 17th and 18th century painting and architecture. As obvious with this haut relief presented by Expertissim. Baroque art used the putti figure in painting, but also with church architecture.  They are messengers of love and hope. Representations of these young, smiling chubby children may be related with the numerous religious reforms in the 17th century, and a grand optimism for life. They related to these times and bring a lightness and frivolity to the Baroque era.

On this haut relief presented by Expertissim the putti are represented in harvest activity. This wine-related activity can be linked with the god Dionysus. On the left side of this representation a putti is playing among ivy and vine garlands, replacing the usual place for Pan.

 

The character of Pan:

 

In Greek mythology and in ancient Greek language pan means all. It is a god of nature, protector of shepherds and flocks. The original Pan is a god of the moon. Pan is the son of Hermes. He was born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Before his monstrous appearance his mother fled, but his father brought him to Mount Olympus and the gods were pleased to welcome him. According to Homer, this myth is the origin of its name, Pan: All. All the gods gladly received him.

In the Homeric hymn, he has a beard, horns and goat feet as he is shown in the haut relief. Pan is represented as the god of the crowd, including any hysterical assembly. Hence he is the origin of the word "panic", human manifestation of Pan’s wrath. For this hysteria, the god Pan was then linked with Dionysian festivals where delirium and drunkenness prevail during major festivals.

A Bacchanalian composition:

The work was realized by a sculptor from the circle of Clodion who was inspired by Antiquity. Clodion as well as his workshop recreated ancient times from specific sources. The subject of children playing refers to Bacchanal

compositions. Clodion does not copy Antiquity but recreates the spirit of it.

The bacchanalia were religious festivals held in Antiquity, celebrated in honor of the god Dionysus, god of wine, drunkenness and excess. Inspired by the Greek Dionysian celebrations, they were introduced in Italy around 300 A.D. Originally these festivals were celebrated by women in secret on March 16th and 17th. Subsequently, the bacchanalia were observed at least three times a year under matron supervision. Then these festivals became public and were held in greater Greece, Egypt and primarily Rome. They lasted for 3 to 5 days. They were particularly focused on theater, serving as religious ceremonies. They later served as a pretext for the wildest disorder, evolving into orgiastic nocturnal feasts, which often had a bad reputation because of public drunkenness. Carnival is a legacy of bacchanalia.

This haut relief with putti finds inspiration in the many haut reliefs made by Clodion about bacchanal such as “Le sacrifice à la chèvre”  (Sacrifice of the Goat), 1782, Louvre, Paris.

Who was Clodion?:

Claude Michel known as Clodion, was born December 20, 1738 in Nancy, and died March 29, 1814 in Paris. His artistic career began in the traditional way. He competed for the Prix de Rome and won. He spent the first three years at École des Élèves Protégés (esteemed art school). Then he was sent to the Academy of France in Rome as a pensioner of the King. The artist extended his stay for six years. He returned to France at the age of 33. On the death of his master and uncle Sigisbert Adam, Pigalle agreed to be the teacher of Clodion. In Rome, he learned his trade next to Natoire. This painter advocated the fundamental importance of drawing or modeling based on nature and Antiquity. He encouraged his students to visit the collections of ancient Rome whether public and private. Natoire’s teaching modeling rather than drawing for a sculptor is clearly visible in the works of Clodion as well as students. The use of terra-cotta for the realization of this haut relief, available on Expertissim, allows a more rounded and sensual model, as evident with the chubby cherubs.

Julia Baraige, étudiante à l'Ecole du Louvre.

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Reference: 2011050342

Items 1

Period: Late 18th Century

Valuation:
$8,877-$15,217

Important terracotta high relief representing four putti harvesting the grapes before a statue of Pan.

Circle of Clodion, Late 18th Century.

(Repairs).

Height: 62,5 cm (24-1/2 in.) - Width: 125 cm (49-1/4 in.).