The Triumph of Bacchus
before 1659 | Michaelina Wautier
Two satyrs are transporting Bacchus, the drunken god of wine, on a cart while a third is dribbling grape juice into his mouth; all are part of a Bacchic procession. On the right side, a woman is gazing out of the composition with a markedly reserved air: Lightly dressed in classical costume, her left breast is exposed; the wand twined with vine leaves in her hand identifies her as either a bacchante – a devotee of the god – or his lover, Ariadne. It is, in fact, a self-portrait of the artist. Considering the topic of the painting, this is highly unusual. For a female artist to depict herself in such a setting documents both courage and irony.
Two satyrs are transporting Bacchus, the drunken god of wine, on a cart while a third is dribbling grape juice into his mouth; all are part of a Bacchic procession. On the right side, a woman is gazing out of the composition with a markedly reserved air: Lightly dressed in classical costume, her left breast is exposed; the wand twined with vine leaves in her hand identifies her as either a bacchante – a devotee of the god – or his lover, Ariadne. It is, in fact, a self-portrait of the artist. Considering the topic of the painting, this is highly unusual. For a female artist to depict herself in such a setting documents both courage and irony.
Artist:
Michaelina Wautier (c. 1614 Bergen (Mons) - 1689 Brüssel) DNB
Time:
before 1659
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Flemish
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
270 cm × 354 cm
Framed (gallery frame): 295 cm × 378 cm × 12 cm
Stamp / markings
auf Rückseite, auf Keilrahmen: roter Stern
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 3548
Provenance
Coll. Leopold Wilhelm
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