A faun sitting on a rock holding a flute in his left hand; a child stands between his knees 1505 - 1515

Marcantonio Raimondi created this engraving, "A faun sitting on a rock holding a flute in his left hand; a child stands between his knees," sometime between 1506 and 1511. Produced during the Italian Renaissance, this artwork provides insight into the era's fascination with classical mythology and its engagement with themes of nature, innocence, and sexuality. The faun, a mythological creature, embodies a merging of human and animal traits. The image presents a complex interplay of innocence and sensuality through the juxtaposition of the faun with the child. This reflects Renaissance society's complex relationship with the classical past, where mythological figures were reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary values and ideals. Raimondi's choice to depict the faun in such intimate proximity to a child prompts questions about the boundaries of innocence and the potential for corruption. The artwork offers us a glimpse into the Renaissance's negotiation of classical themes, reflecting both reverence for antiquity and an attempt to reconcile it with contemporary sensibilities.