Caravaggio, Bacchus

Bacchus (c. 1596) is an oil painting by Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) commissioned by Cardinal Del Monte. The painting shows a youthful Bacchus reclining in classical fashion with grapes and vine leaves in his hair, fingering the drawstring of his loosely draped robe. On a stone table in front of him is a bowl of fruit and a large carafe of red wine. He holds out a shallow goblet of the same wine, inviting the viewer to join him. The painting is currently held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

Subject matter[edit]
Bacchus, also known as Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, inebriation, fertility and theater. He is known to be joyous and kind to those who admire him, yet cruel and mischievous to those who cross him. [3] Scenes from Greek mythology were often found in the private spaces of aristocrats. Classical images were used to depict the patrons interests or triumphs. The patron may have valued the finer things in life and saw Bacchus as the perfect allegory for wealth and excess.