19th Century Bronze Faun playing a flute.

A very good quality 19th century patinated bronze figure featuring the satyr Marsyas playing the flute. He is standing against a column, partially covered with his own skin, which refers to Apollo's punishment. French School.
In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas is a central figure in two stories involving death: in one, he picked up the double oboe that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music and lost his hide and life. In the contest between Apollo and Marsyas, the terms stated that the winner could treat the defeated party any way he wanted. Since the contest was judged by the Muses, Marsyas naturally lost and was flayed alive in a cave near Celaenae for his hubris to Challenge a god. Apollo then nailed Marsyas' skin to a pine tree, circa 1860
 
Batch 75 61119.  DUKZN