Antiek standbeeld van Silenus 1678

Etienne Baudet made this print of an antique statue of Silenus, likely sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Silenus, in Greek mythology, was a companion and tutor to Dionysus, the god of wine. The print speaks to the cultural fascination with classical antiquity that took hold in Europe. The original statue would have likely been part of a noble collection, signaling the owner's refined taste and knowledge. Baudet’s print makes this exclusive world accessible to a wider audience, helping to spread and cement the cultural authority of classical art. Prints like these also served as educational tools within the academies. Students would study them to understand classical forms and ideals of beauty. The naked, athletic man represents a desire to emulate and revive what was perceived as a golden age of artistic and intellectual achievement. To truly understand this image, one might consult auction catalogs, inventories of noble collections, and the curricula of art academies. Only then can we understand the social life of this image and the role it played in shaping cultural values.