Kneeling Satyr Supporting the Figure of an Emperor c. 1500

This bronze sculpture by Severo da Ravenna, created around 1500, depicts a kneeling satyr holding aloft a small figure of an emperor. The satyr, a mythical creature with the legs and horns of a goat and the torso of a man, is a symbol of wildness and nature. The small emperor, likely a Roman ruler, represents civilization and order. This contrast highlights the tension between the natural world and human society, a theme explored in Renaissance art. The sculpture's detailed modeling and realistic depiction of the satyr's fur and the emperor's drapery demonstrate Severo's mastery of bronze casting.