Silenus Holding the Infant Dionysus at The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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This is one of many replicas of a sculpture from the late 4th century BC that originated in the school of Lysippos. The most sought-after, refined replica can be found at The Louvre, created for the Borghese collection (Ma 922, MR 346, available on MyMiniFactory). The age Silenus, mentor and companion to the god of wine Dionysus, cradles the god who is shown here as an infant. Initially identified as a faun, one early critic preferred to see him as Saturn about to devour one of his children. It is a sculpture that received more acclaim in its time than it does today. Writers and aesthetes praised it greatly in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and it was frequently reproduced in France, Italy and the UK. Its ownership changed numerous times between 1569 when it was first recorded, and 1807 when Napoleon acquired it for France. The original has undergone extensive restoration work in grey-veined marble and plaster. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the world for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can get involved.