Atlante Satyres in The Louvre, Paris

cults3d

These statues once belonged to a group of four characters that strongly resembled those found in the Theater of Dionysos in Athens. Lavishly restored and transformed into a medium-sized bowl, they were showcased outdoors during the 18th century, earning them prominent status as one of the Villa Salaria's most celebrated pieces under Cardinal Albani (1692 - 1779). Several contemporary painters, including Hubert Robert, created reproductions of these statues. A scaled-down version was even part of a stunning display in Sevres porcelain at the Tuileries. At the Louvre, they were integrated into a breathtaking gallery within the Tiber hall. This is why they were swapped out in 1815 for four caryatids from the Mazarin collection, which had been sold by Prince Albani's commissioner to Munich.