A Roman Marble Torso of the Pouring Satyr, circa 2nd Century A.D.

after a Greek original by Praxiteles from the 2nd quarter of the 4th Century B.C., standing with the weight on his left leg, his right arm formerly raised and left arm once lowered, the support decorated with leaves in relief; head and both arms formerly restored, upper legs and support probably restored.

Spink & Son, Ltd., London
acquired by the museum from the above in February 1957 and accessioned as inv. no. 57.8

Ancient Art in the Virginia Museum, Richmond, Virginia, 1973, p. 125, no. 143.

Lower legs and support repaired (with small losses along joins filled in with plaster and painted over), held together by 17th-century vertical metal clamps, one across front of proper left leg, one along outside of proper right left leg, and possibly a third one along back of support. Areas of painted plaster restoration below both buttocks. Two of the clamps concealed with a rectangular piece of marble painted over. Arm, head, and leg breaks prepared to accommodate modern marble extremities now missing; mortises are filled with plaster. Back and proper left-side covered in deep chisel-marks, apparently modern. Small fill below proper right shoulder. There is a lightly chiselled area on each side of neck above collarbone, probably to receive restored locks of hair. Additional modern hole inside proper arm break. Superficial stress crack across abdomen and small area of fill on proper right part of chest.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present torso is a Roman copy of the so-called Pouring Satyr, a type known in numerous copies, dated to circa 375-350 B.C., and attributed to Praxiteles. For two well-preserved copies in Dresden see K. Knoll, et al., eds., Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Katalog der antiken Bildwerke, vol. 2, 2011, pp. 863ff., nos. 207f. For a discussion of the debated identification of the original with a Satyr by Praxiteles mentioned by ancient authors as standing in the so-called Tripod Street in Athens see S. Kansteiner, et al., eds., Der Neue Overbeck, vol. 3, 2014, pp. 150ff., no. 40.