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Standing Fauness

Standing Fauness is a white marble sculpture measuring 70.1 × 44.7 × 38.4 cm, created in 1910 by Auguste Rodin. The work presents several creative motifs, including the image of a bewildered woman condemned among a crowd of sinners in a setting that suggests the lust of hell. It also symbolizes the close relationship between Rodin and the Duchess of Marlborough. This connection is reflected in an inscription on the left side of the base that reads, “A Miss señorita Gladys Deacon/ Auguste Rodin.”

Standing Fauness, a white marble nude female sculpture with her head bowed, one hand at her neck and the other holding a downward-pointing club.
Standing Fauness by Auguste Rodin, shown here as a white marble nude figure with her head tilted down and a club in hand.
January 2008 © · CC0
Standing Fauness, a marble nude female figure standing on a stone base with her head bowed and one hand at her neck.
Standing Fauness shown as a marble nude figure on a rough stone base.
March 2017 © · CC BY 3.0
Standing Fauness, a white marble sculpture of a nude female figure with her head bowed and one arm raised.
Standing Fauness in white marble, shown with a bowed head and one arm raised.
June 2016 © Museo Soumaya · Public domain
Standing Fauness, a pale nude female sculpture with her head bowed and one hand at her neck.
Standing Fauness shown with her head bowed and one hand raised to her neck.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Standing Fauness, a dark bronze female figure with her head bowed and a draped garment at her side.
Standing Fauness shown as a dark patinated bronze female figure with her head bowed.
© Auguste Rodin (France, 1840-1917) · Public domain

Identification

TitleStanding Female Faun
Spanish titleLa Faunesa de Pie; Faunesa de Pie

Creator

ArtistAuguste Rodin

Historical context

Date created1910

Materials

Materialwhite marble

Physical characteristics

Dimensions70.1 × 44.7 × 38.4 cm

Iconography and meaning

Iconographic themeThe lust of hell
Associated sculptural groupThe tympanum group on The Gates of Hell
InterpretationRepresents the conception of a hybrid creature combining human and ram characteristics; Rodin conceived the work as representing a soul within the sculptural group on the tympanum of the Gates of Hell; The piece symbolizes the close relationship between Rodin and the Duchess of Marlborough
ThemeA set of women representing the lust of hell (the lust of the inferno)
Subject depictedA woman condemned and bewildered among a crowd of sinners
Subject / representationA being of hybrid nature, half human and half ram

Discovery and provenance

Associated personGladys Deacon

History and restoration

Signature / inscriptionSigned on the left-hand side of the base: "A Miss Gladys Deacon / Auguste Rodin"; "A Miss señorita Gladys Deacon/ Auguste Rodin"
Signature locationLeft-hand side of the base
Signature significanceThe signature testifies to the close relationship between the artist and Gladys Deacon
Supporting evidence for interpretationAn inscription on the left side of the base
Inscription text"A Miss Gladys Deacon / Auguste Rodin"; "A Miss señorita Gladys Deacon/ Auguste Rodin"
Person mentioned in inscriptionGladys Deacon
Artist named in inscriptionAuguste Rodin