Carrara Marble Masterpieces

One of them is the "Bacchant" by the neoclassical sculptor Luigi Bieneme (1795–1878).  The “Bacchant” is lazily lying on the fur, opening the jug and is about to enjoy its contents while gazing in distance.

In Roman mythology, bacchants are the companions of Bacchus – the god of wine and viticulture. They participated in bakhanalies – a festival dedicated to Bacchus, dominated by wine, dance and music. This festival freed Bacchus' followers from fears and troubles, allowing them to feel pleasure, indulge in ecstasy and orgies.

Next to the "Bacchant" there are two sculptures by the neoclassical sculptor Pietro Tenerani (1789–1869) – “Psyche” and “Venus”.

The ancient Roman writer Apuleius says that Cupid fell in love with Psyche, but his mother Venus was jealous of the girl's beauty and persecuted her. Venus sent Psyche underground after a vessel, with firm instructions not to open it, but the girl could not resist her curiosity and opened the vessel, immediately sinking into a deep sleep.

The passionate love of Psyche has inspired artists for centuries.

In creating this work, Tenerani aimed to capture the position of the body when a person becomes deeply and unexpectedly unconscious. He made several drafts, four of which were found in the sculptor's workshop and are a testament to the artist’s creative search.

The plastic shape, harmonious and majestic lines, smooth marble surface and Tenerani's characteristic style gave this sculpture great fame. It has at least seven reproductions.

In turn, the “Venus”, the goddess of love and beauty, is depicted in an unusual position. This pose allows to show the natural beauty of a woman's body, but does not reveal it frontally and directly, keeping it a secret.

Its origins can be traced back to around 250 BC, when the sculptor Doidalsas of Bithynia created the first this type of Venus and gaining great popularity. The bronze original has not been preserved, but its marble copies were created by the ancient Greeks and the Romans, therefore, to this day, about 20 sculptures have been found in various museums around the world, inspiring many 19th century artists.

Usually, when a woman was depicted in the antique world, she was portrayed standing. Here one can trace the opposite. Venus is squatting, covering the body with her hands, as if about to climb out of the water after a swim. Water plays an important role in the myths about Venus – she was born from it and returns to purity after a ritual bathing.