One of the most unusual works in Bory Jenő’s medallic oeuvre is the medal or plaque entitled Faun Abducting a Nymph. In this mythological scene, a faun—the woodland being of ancient mythology—kisses a nymph held in his lap, while further figures and plant motifs appear in the background. With its dynamic composition and unusual choice of subject, the work differs from Bory’s portrait and commemorative medals.
The terracotta medal, almost 10 centimetres in diameter and held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery, evokes the world of classical Greco-Roman mythology. The work bears neither inscription nor date and, rather than depicting a known biographical or historical figure, presents an allegorical scene.
The subject also engaged Bory in other media: the figures of the faun and nymph appeared in his paintings and small sculptures as well. The work demonstrates that the artist was interested not only in historical personalities and the world of monuments, but also in mythology and the classical beauty of the human figure.