A finely cast Italian Grand Tour bronze model of the celebrated Dancing Faun of Florence, after the celebrated Hellenistic antique in the Uffizi Gallery, where the marble has remained one of the great treasures of the collection since the 17th century. Dating to circa 1860, this beautifully patinated bronze captures the extraordinary vitality and movement of the antique original. The figure, more accurately a satyr than a faun, is shown absorbed in ecstatic dance, his head bowed rhythmically as he clashes metal cymbala in his hands. Attached to his sandal is a kroupezion, an ancient percussive device fitted with metal plates, intended to create a rhythmic accompaniment akin to the sound of a modern tap shoe. The sculptor has rendered the anatomy with exceptional sensitivity and classical understanding. Every muscle appears animated with movement — from the tension in the shoulders and abdomen to the finely modelled calves and feet — conveying the energy and sensuality so admired in Hellenistic sculpture. Delicate mythological details remain visible, including the tiny horns emerging from the satyr’s curls and the small goat’s tail at the rear, reminders of the creature’s Dionysian nature and associations with wine, music, revelry and theatrical performance. Richly patinated in a deep classical brown, the bronze is mounted on an elegant shaped Sienna marble plinth whose warm golden tones complement the dark surface beautifully. The quality of casting and chasing throughout reflects the finest traditions of the mid-19th century Grand Tour bronze workshops, created for sophisticated travellers and collectors inspired by the rediscovery of the ancient world. Comparable reductions of the model were produced by distinguished sculptors and founders including Pietro Cipriani, with an example now preserved in the J. Paul Getty Museum. Italy, circa 1860. Height: 32 cm Width: 4 inches (10 cm) Depth: 13cm