Bacchanal with Silenus, early 1470s
Engravingexpand_more
Bequest of Herschel V. Jonesexpand_more P.68.208
Not on Viewexpand_more
Silenus, the plump companion of the wine god Bacchus, is carried by two satyrs and receives a grapevine crown from a third. The musicians seem eager to lead the procession, but things don't seem to be going too smoothly. The image recalls the format of ancient Roman sarcophagi, but since no direct antecedent has been discovered, Andrea Mantegna seems to have fully imbibed the lessons of antiquity and reformulated them into entirely original conceptions.
Details
- Title
- Bacchanal with Silenus
- Artist Life
- (Padua), 1430/31–1506
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.68.208
- Provenance
- Colnaghi; Knoedler & Co., 1925
- Catalogue Raisonne
- H.3 (Hind V 12.3); B.20; "Andrea Mantegna" 1992 exh., cat. no. 75
- 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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