Barberini Faun. Understanding the image of "ingenuous nature"
The article is dedicated to the Barberini Faun (Satyr): its origin, style and meaning. In addition, it provides a brief overview of the ideas by competent scholars, sometimes concurring and conflicting at the same time. Still it is traditionally asserted that the statue belongs to Pergamene school of the end 3rd - the early 2nd century BC. Expressiveness of the image is based on a combination of two features of the form: a physiognomics, describing the body of the Satyr, and the body's being asleep. In the physiognomics animal signs of satyr are shaded and heroic masculine gender type is accentuated. Being asleep is a consequence of the satyr taking communion wine which acts here as the essence of its patron; thus Dionysus tames the satyr and simultaneously takes him under his protection.