Greek
A Greek terracotta head of Pan, Hellenistic, circa 3rd century BC
Terracotta
Height: 14 cm
Further images
The god is depicted with shaggy hair around his forehead and a full, voluminous beard. His large and alert eyes stare out from under his sharply protruding eyebrows. With slightly...
The god is depicted with shaggy hair around his forehead and a full, voluminous beard. His large and alert eyes stare out from under his sharply protruding eyebrows. With slightly parted lips, a hooked nose, prominent cheekbones and large pointed ears. Behind the hairline and close to the ears are two stumps, possibly remains of horns.
Provenance
Damià Mateu Collection (1864 - 1935), Barcelona, Spain
With Galerie Cahn, Basel, 2017
UK private collection, acquired from the above
Literature
This wonderful example of Hellenistic sculpture depicts the lively god Pan. Pan was a Greek god of nature whose worship originated in the remote mountains of Arcadia, but whose cult spread throughout Greece. In art, he was visualised as a hybrid with the head, arms and torso of a human, and the legs and hooves of a goat. He is variously shown as a young boy, and a bearded man.During the Hellenistic period the god's animal nature is emphasised by his wild expression, furrowed brow, and shaggy hair. Representations of Pan are rare in terracotta, perhaps due to the technical skill required to create such detailed incision needed to emphasise the striking hair and beard.
For an example of a Hellenistic figure of Pan see, J.P. Uhlenbrock, The Coroplast’s Art. Greek Terracottas of the Hellenistic World, New York 1990 p. 147, cat no. 34.