Bacchanal

before 1659, Artist: Michaelina Wautier

 

 

Bacchanal

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.

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Saal XIV

Object data

Object Name

Painting

Culture

Flemish

Dated

before 1659

Artist

Michaelina Wautier (1614 Bergen (Mons) - 1689 Brüssel) - GND

Material

Canvas

Dimensions

270 cm × 354 cm
Framed (gallery frame): 295 cm × 378 cm × 12 cm

Markings

auf Rückseite, auf Keilrahmen: roter Stern

Image rights

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie

Inv. No.

Gemäldegalerie, 3548

Provenance

Coll. Leopold Wilhelm

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