Monkey fountain figure 1595 - 1605

Caspar Gras created this bronze monkey fountain figure. The composition emphasizes the monkey's posture, seated with outstretched hands and a slightly tilted head. There's a play between the smooth surfaces of the face and hands and the rougher, textured body, creating a tactile contrast. This tension draws attention to the materiality of the bronze itself. The dark patina of the bronze, combined with the monkey's expressive face, introduces a semiotic dimension, inviting one to decode the intentions and context of its creation. The monkey, often a symbol of imitation or mockery, here might challenge fixed meanings. This piece prompts one to reflect on how animals were represented in art and how they mirrored human characteristics or behaviours. The figure's formal structure, with its detailed anatomy and lively expression, underscores the craftsmanship of the sculpture, while the monkey's symbolic associations broaden its cultural and philosophical implications.