Artwork
A young faun picking grapes
A young faun picking grapes is an oil painting by the German Romanticist artist Heinrich Eddelien. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a young faun in the act of picking grapes, a subject that combines the mythological figure of the faun with the agricultural motif of the grape harvest. The faun, a creature of classical antiquity, is rendered youthful and engaged in a simple, rustic activity, while the grapes suggest themes of abundance and the pleasures of nature. Together, these elements evoke a pastoral vision rooted in ancient mythology, emphasizing the harmony between mythic beings and the earthly cycle of growth and harvest.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium confirmed by both the artist’s materials and the museum’s cataloging.
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a medium confirmed by both the artist’s materials and the museum’s cataloging. Rendered in 1823, the composition depicts a youthful faun in the act of gathering grapes, a subject that blends mythological charm with a naturalistic handling of form. The brushwork and coloration reflect the academic approach of early nineteenth‑century European painting, while the scale, approximately 131 centimeters in height and 107 centimeters in width, positions the piece within the tradition of full‑size genre scenes.
History & Provenance
A young faun picking grapes is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It entered the collection in 1823 and was accessioned under the inventory number that corresponds to the museum's records for that work. The painting has been displayed in the museum's permanent collection galleries, contributing to exhibitions of 19th-century Danish art, though specific exhibition titles are not detailed in the available documentation.
Overview
Heinrich Eddelien’s 1823 oil painting, titled A Young Faun Picking Grapes, is part of the collection at Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst. The work presents a solitary, youthful faun seated on the ground, engaged in the act of gathering grapes from a vine that climbs behind him. The composition is rendered in a restrained palette of greys, whites and blacks, emphasizing form over colour.
Artist & collection
