Seated Satyr Leaning Backward [recto] 1758 - 1765

Jean-Baptiste Deshays created this drawing of a seated satyr using black chalk on paper. The figure of the satyr, a creature of myth, was a popular subject in 18th-century France. Satyrs are known for their revelry and association with nature, and they often represent the unrestrained aspects of human behavior, a theme that resonated in pre-revolutionary France. Deshays was a student at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, an institution that played a significant role in shaping artistic taste and regulating artistic production. The Academy prescribed a hierarchy of genres, with history painting at the top, followed by portraiture, genre scenes, and still life. Mythological subjects such as this satyr allowed artists to display their knowledge of classical literature, while also exploring themes of sensuality. Looking at the artistic choices and the social context helps us understand how artistic conventions were both upheld and challenged in the late 1700s. To understand this further, scholars examine period literature, social histories, and records from the Academy. Art’s meaning is always shaped by its cultural and institutional surrounding.