John Hogan was one of the first students to study at the School of Art in Cork which was founded in 1819. Hogan then went to Rome to continue his studies and established a studio. His work was highly regarded in Rome, particularly by Thorwaldsen. Hogan returned to Ireland and undertook a number of major commissions, but his subsequent career in his native country was marredby dissapointments and frustrations. The Drunken Faun is possibly Hogan's masterpiece. It was executed n Rome, in response to a challange made by Gibson, one of Hogans fellow sculptors, that no new original pose was possible. In spite of being based somewhat on the Barberini faun, Hogan's sculpture soundly disproves Gibsons assertion.