Artwork Page for Fragment with Satyr and Maenad

Details / Information for Fragment with Satyr and Maenad

Fragment with Satyr and Maenad

300s CE

Byzantine Empire

(Egypt)
Medium
Linen: undyed; wool: dyed; plain weave ground with tapestry weave
Measurements
Overall: 139 x 86.4 cm (54 3/4 x 34 in.); Mounted: 153.6 x 100.4 x 3.9 cm (60 1/2 x 39 1/2 x 1 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1975.6
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This textile fragment depicts followers of Dionysus, the ancient Greco-Roman god of wine and merriment. A maenad, or female follower, prances in front of columns and archways, nude except for her opulent gold jewelry and pink veil. She gazes at the man, who wears a hair wreath and spotted leopard skin. A Greek inscription beside his halo confirms his identity as a satyr (a male follower). The weaver skillfully blended colors and fibers to produce the illusion of shadows and movement in the two bodies. Though Christianity was the official religion, many pagan motifs endured as creative references.
Highly fragmented textile depicting a stylized man and nude woman with light skin tone standing under an archway. The woman leans back against the man looking up at him as he, wearing a green wrap speckled with black dots looks down at her. Bits of the textile have deteriorated away, most noticeably across their chests and along the edges. To their left, the sparse remnants of a blue column with a brown capital stands.

Fragment with Satyr and Maenad

300s CE

Byzantine Empire (Egypt)

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