Bacchic group: satyr and bacchante with infant satyr 1785 - 1799

This terracotta sculpture of a Bacchic group was created by Claude Michel, known as Clodion, in the eighteenth century. Notice how Clodion masterfully captures a moment of dynamic ecstasy through the intertwined figures of a satyr, bacchante, and infant. The artist’s sophisticated treatment of the terracotta medium, with its varied textures and gradations, enhances the sculpture’s dramatic effect. The composition invites exploration of themes around classical mythology and the celebration of revelry. The embracing figures are arranged in a complex, spiraling composition, creating a sense of movement and energy. The bacchante’s gesture, reaching upwards, is in tension with the supporting satyr. The underlying principles of classical sculpture are here disrupted, to create an innovative approach to form and expression. Through the signs and symbols of classical mythology, Clodion destabilizes established notions of order and restraint, exploring themes of pleasure and freedom.