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Massimiliano Soldani Benzi - Workshop of Massimiliano Soldani Benzi - Dancing Faun - Walters 54674
Summary
The faun (a creature of the woodlands in Greco-Roman mythology, identified by his horns and pointed ears) plays the cymbals and works a clapper with his right foot. Soldani made multiple versions in different sizes of this figure, a copy of a famous life-size ancient Hellenistic marble statue, which was already in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. This small size is perfect for a collector, as it can be easily picked up.
This statuette can be compared with the two groups by Soldani: "Adonis Mourned by Venus and Cupids" (Walters 54.677) and "The Dead Christ Mourned by the Virgin and an Angel" (Walters 54.1066). They all share an attention to the tactile qualities of the surface, but the others are complex pieces that demonstrate his artistic imagination and originality in composition.
Born in Florence, Soldani Benzi was a student of Giovanni Battista Foggini and worked in his workshop before setting up his own studio. He became known for his skill in creating bronze sculptures, which were highly prized by collectors and patrons of the arts. Soldani Benzi's works are characterised by their intricate detail and realistic depiction of the human figure. He often drew inspiration from classical mythology and biblical stories, as well as contemporary events and people. Some of his most famous works include the bronze statue of St John the Baptist in the church of San Giovanni Battista in Florence, the bust of Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici and the bronze group The Rape of Proserpina. Soldani Benzi was also a prolific writer and art historian, publishing several treatises on sculpture and collecting. He died in Florence in 1740, leaving a legacy as one of the most important sculptors of the Italian Baroque.
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