ticketsMember | Make a donation
English

Bacchante and Infant Faun

Founder Cast by Thiébaut frères French
1893–94, cast 1894
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 700
“Bacchante and Infant Faun” epitomizes the dramatic French Beaux-Arts style that dominated American sculpture during the late nineteenth century. An exuberant pagan reveler with grapes in her raised right hand holds an eager infant in the crook of her left arm. Her twinkling eyes, joyous mouth, spiraling form, lively silhouette, and richly textured surface combine to produce one of the most vibrant images in American art. MacMonnies gave this cast to the architect Charles Follen McKim (1847–1909) as thanks for a fifty-dollar loan. When McKim’s plan to install it in the courtyard of his new Boston Public Library set off an angry storm about its dubious moral tone, he instead presented it to the Metropolitan.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bacchante and Infant Faun
  • Artist: Frederick William MacMonnies (American, New York 1863–1937 New York)
  • Founder: Cast by Thiébaut frères (French)
  • Date: 1893–94, cast 1894
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: 84 x 29 3/4 x 31 1/2 in. (213.4 x 75.6 x 80 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Charles F. McKim, 1897
  • Object Number: 97.19
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

Audio

Cover Image for 3803. Bacchante and Infant Faun, Part 1

3803. Bacchante and Infant Faun, Part 1

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Young Faun with Heron, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Bronze, American
Young Faun with Heron
Frederick William MacMonnies
Jaboeuf et Rouard
1889–90, cast ca. 1902
Niagara, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Bronze and silver, American
Niagara
Frederick William MacMonnies
1892
The Cobbler, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Charcoal on off-white laid paper, American
The Cobbler
Frederick William MacMonnies
1885
Self-portrait, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Oil on canvas, American
Self-portrait
Frederick William MacMonnies
ca. 1904
Diana, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Bronze, American
Diana
Frederick William MacMonnies
E. Gruet
1888–89; cast 1890

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 21

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.