Bacchante Giving Drink to a Young Faun, after antiquity 1772 - 1788

Curator: This is Nathaniel Marchant's "Bacchante Giving Drink to a Young Faun, after antiquity." It's an intaglio, a small-scale engraving. Editor: It has such a delicate, almost ephemeral quality, despite the density of the material. The composition, with the Bacchante's flowing robes, emphasizes the figures' connection. Curator: Marchant was a master of glyptography, or gem engraving, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Notice how the scene recalls classical motifs of nurturing and revelry. Editor: The size is remarkable; it invites an intimate viewing experience. It's interesting to think about who would've owned and handled this, and for what purpose. Curator: The production of such a piece would have been an artisanal practice, perhaps a luxury item meant to display the owner's refinement and education. Editor: It's a beautifully balanced tableau of mythic proportions. Seeing the classical through a later lens lets us consider the continuing significance of these stories.