large composite image with many small vignettes of figures young and old drinking liquor; Bacchus at top center on a pedestal accompanied by male and female figures, a dog and a goat--all three figures raise goblets; ships and houses on fire, ULC; breweries, bars, hospital, jail, an asylum and a workhouse at top center and right; scattered text, including, at center: "SACRIFICED / AT THE SHRINE OF BACCHUS / FATHER, MOTHER, SISTERS, / BROTHERS, WIFE, CHILDREN / PROPERTY, FRIENDS, / BODY AND MIND."

The Worship of Bacchus, 1864

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Engravingexpand_more

Gift of Jonathan and Barbara Hillexpand_more  2012.99

Not on Viewexpand_more

At the age of 55, the prolific illustrator and social satirist George Cruikshank gave up drinking and became a leading figure in the Temperance movement. As part of his campaign to dry out Britain, he produced an enormous—more than 7 x 13 feet—painting cum manifesto, The Worship of Bacchus (1860-62). He also reproduced the image in this large engraving measuring roughly 2 x 3 feet. The image catalogues the sorry fate—the house of correction, the hospital, the workhouse, the jail, or the lunatic asylum—that awaits even those who innocently taste a drop and thereby enter the wicked realm of Bacchus, who stands triumphantly over the depravity.

The present impression of the print is a rare proof before the final inscriptions and bears a large pencil signature in Cruikshank's hand.

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Details
Title
The Worship of Bacchus
Artist Life
1792 - 1878
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2012.99
Provenance
(Mandalay Rare Books, Redwood City, Calif.); (Jarndyce Antiquarian Booksellers, London); Jonathan and Barbara Hill (1995-2012); given to MIA, 2012
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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large composite image with many small vignettes of figures young and old drinking liquor; Bacchus at top center on a pedestal accompanied by male and female figures, a dog and a goat--all three figures raise goblets; ships and houses on fire, ULC; breweries, bars, hospital, jail, an asylum and a workhouse at top center and right; scattered text, including, at center: "SACRIFICED / AT THE SHRINE OF BACCHUS / FATHER, MOTHER, SISTERS, / BROTHERS, WIFE, CHILDREN / PROPERTY, FRIENDS, / BODY AND MIND."