Object Description
An antique Italian white statuary marble sculpture of Dirce after Lorenzo Bartolini (1777-1850).
This beautiful marble is carved after one of Lorenzo Bartolini’s most successful sculptures, the Dirce or Bacchante (circa 1834); a reclined nude woman holding a tambourine on a marble plinth base.
While the original resides in the musée du Louvre, Paris, this mid 19th century version is of a smaller scale but the expertly carved details and recognisable features of the original remain, including the beautiful torso, elegant elongated legs, flower crown and tambourine.
The characterful lightly weathered marble adds elegance and grandeur to the overall finish of the sculpture, showcasing its fine quality in a striking neoclassical style.
Dirce of Bacchante
In Greek mythology Dirce, meaning ‘double’ or ‘cleft’, also known as Bacchante, was the wife of Lycus and the aunt of Antiope, who was impregnated by Zeus.
She was known for her cruelty to Antiope and for being one of the Bacchantes; a group of nymphs linked to the cult of Dionysus, also known as Bacchus. These nymphs are often depicted in the nude, wearing little clothing, a crown of flowers and dancing or playing music – much like Dirce is in this sculpture.
Although known for her cruelty, the beauty and elegance of this mythological character is clear.