Minneapolis Institute of Art

Dionysian Frieze

Jean-Guillaume Moitte

Date

c. 1787–90

Medium

Graphite, pen and brush with black ink, green and gray wash, and white gouache, on two joined sheets

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The French sculptor Jean-Guillaume Moitte spent two years in Rome, and this long, relief-like drawing reflects his study of ancient Roman art. In both format and subject it recalls a famous Roman wall painting, The Aldobrandini Wedding, dating from the time of Emperor Augustus and excavated in Rome in 1601. Represented here from left to right are the stages of a young woman’s initiation into carnal love. To the accompaniment of music, and led by a more knowing companion, she is carried by a faun toward the realm of lust. Then, startled and modestly covering her face and genitals, she is shown the phallus of a male herm. In the final scene, reclining now, she passionately kisses an aroused satyr. France, Europe

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