Johan Tobias Sergel
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Sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel’s “Faun” (“The Faun”) takes us back to the divine world of classical antiquity and the followers around Bacchus, god of wine. In 1768 Sergel travelled to Rome to complete his studies. He was active there for ten years until King Gustav III literally ordered him back to Sweden. Sergel’s interest in classical antiquity art, sculpture and architecture was stimulated in Rome, and he became one of the most well-known sculptors in Europe. “Faun”, completed in 1770, contributed greatly to his reputation.
What then is a faun? Well, he belongs to the god Bacchus’ followers, while Bacchus is associated with fertility. He had taken on wine-growing especially, but we should not forget that milk and honey also belonged to his world. When Bacchus went down to Earth he was surrounded by a large contingent of fauns who tumbled around amongst forests and mountains. A faun has a human body, but in Sergel’s sculpture its true nature is revealed by the little tail at the end of its spine.
All of Bacchus’ followers drank and enjoyed life. However, Sergel’s faun is not sleepy and tired from the wine, he is intoxicated, not from wine, but lust for life. The sculpture clearly shows this in the faun’s broad smile. He is reclining even further back against a leather sack full of wine but is in the act of getting up. This can be seen in his body movement and how he takes support on one foot to try to get on an even keel! In the hand behind his head he is holding the rest of a staff or pan-pipe, in the other a bunch of grapes. As we can deduce, he has been drinking wine.
Sergel made the sculpture in three different materials – plaster, clay and marble. Our example is of plaster but painted to look like burnt clay.
It has been said of Sergel that he himself sang praise to Bacchus the god of wine. Over the years he achieved an impressive body from good food and drink. His faun is a sculpture inspired by the classical antiquity, but also a sort of portrait of life in Rome – with flowing wine, love, happiness and a lust for life.
