Bacchus, Ceres and Amor
around 1600 | Hans von Aachen
The link between the wine god Bacchus and Ceres, goddess of the field fruits, is reminiscent of the theme from Terenz, “Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus” (Without Bread and Wine, Love Freezes). Aachen lends his own and his wife’s features to the mythological figures. The boy resembles Aachen’s son. The motive could hint at the famous painting by the Greek painter Zeuxis who painted a boy with grapes so convincingly that birds picked at the painted fruits.
The link between the wine god Bacchus and Ceres, goddess of the field fruits, is reminiscent of the theme from Terenz, “Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus” (Without Bread and Wine, Love Freezes). Aachen lends his own and his wife’s features to the mythological figures. The boy resembles Aachen’s son. The motive could hint at the famous painting by the Greek painter Zeuxis who painted a boy with grapes so convincingly that birds picked at the painted fruits.
Artist:
Hans von Aachen (1552 Köln - 1615 Prag) DNB
Time:
around 1600
Object Name
Painting
Culture
German
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
163 cm × 113 cm
Framed (gallery frame): 180,4 cm × 131,7 cm × 9 cm
Signed
"HVA" monogrammed at the top right of the pillar
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 1098
Provenance
Probably from the collection of Emperor Rudolf II; 1621 from Prague;