Feast of Faunus c. 1707

Editor: This is Claude Gillot's "Feast of Faunus," a drawing done sometime between 1673 and 1722. It’s rendered in a warm, reddish-brown tone. What cultural symbols can you uncover in this bustling scene? Curator: Note the recurrent motif of the bacchantes, figures associated with revelry. What emotional undertones do you perceive in their poses and gestures? Consider, too, Faunus, a god of nature. How does his presence inform our reading of the work? Editor: It's fascinating how these symbols interact, creating a narrative of both joy and something… wilder. I see how they reflect a connection to nature and ancient rituals. Curator: Exactly. Gillot uses classical iconography to tap into primal emotions and enduring cultural memories.