Faun and Reclining Nymph, after a fresco c. 19th century

Curator: This small, delicate piece, "Faun and Reclining Nymph, after a fresco," is attributed to the Pichler family. I’m immediately drawn to the miniature scale and the pale plaster. Editor: It evokes a dreamlike serenity, a classic image captured in miniature. The faun and nymph represent a pastoral ideal. Curator: Indeed, and the Pichler family were known for their mastery of glyptography, the art of carving in gemstones or plaster. Think of the labour involved in such a small, precise reproduction. Editor: The faun, a symbol of untamed nature, alongside the nymph, a guardian of the springs, their pairing speaks to the harmony between humanity and the natural world. Curator: The choice of plaster, a relatively inexpensive material, allows wider access to classical imagery. It democratizes, in a way, the artistic experience. Editor: Seeing it now, I'm newly struck by how these figures, though small, echo grander narratives about our connection to the earth. Curator: And for me, it emphasizes how the value of art is found not only in the intrinsic worth of materials, but in the skill and labor invested.