File:Statue of Dadophorus 02.jpg

English: Boncompagni Ludovisi Collection, perhaps from the Cesi Colletion.

Medium-grained crystalline marble, Carrara marble for the restorations.

This work, extensively altered in the 17th Century to restore its integrity, is largely the creation of the Bolognese sculptor Alessandro Algardi, called to Rome in 1626 by Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi to work on the restoration of his collection of ancient sculptures. Only the bust and the upper part of the legs of the original statue, probably a copy of the 3rd Century BC Satyr from Lamia, are still extant. After Algardi's additions, the work was listed in the 17th Century inventories as Prometheus or as a personification of the Day. The artist was probably inspired by a work in the Giustiniani Collection, very well known in his time, depicting a nude youth holding a torch in one hand and apples in the other. Compared to the Giustiniani model, the Ludovisi sculpture exhibits conspicuos 17th Century traits, mostly in the face, which could be compared with that of the Athena restored by the same artist (ground floor, Hall of the Algardi Athena).

Algardi's interpretation of the dadophorus (torch-bearer) emphasises its solar symbolism: the apples recall the legendary Garden of the Hesperides and represent the night, while the lit-up torch symbolises the day.