The Triumph of Bacchus

Bacchus on a chariot preceded by a drunken procession of nude men, women and satyrs all carrying grapes.

Engraving, late XVI Century, after Giulio Romano (Roma 1499 c. – Mantova 1546).

The origins of this Bacchic scene, where Bacchus advances on his chariot preceded by maenads, satyrs, musicians, and acrobats drunk on wine in markedly erotic poses, are ancient and clearly refer to ancient Bacchic bas-reliefs, the source of many of Giulio's depictions, such as the Triumph of Bacchus and the Preparations for the Wedding Banquet, visible at the Palazzo Te. The satyr-coachman sitting on the carriage is a precise reference to similar figures visible in an ancient bas-relief. Similarly, the faun with the double flute, as well as the detail of the cupids riding goats, are motifs traceable in ancient Bacchic reliefs. The detail of the satyr pulling the goat by the beard is visible in a gem from the Grimani collection. The round temple in the background recalls that of Vesta in Tivoli, while the statue visible in the center appears to be linked to Michelangelo's famous Bacchus, once in the garden of the Galli house. (

Magnificent work, rich in tone, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed to the marginal line, without the lower white part containing two lines of verse, in excellent condition.

Bibliografia

Hollstein n. 8; S. Massari, Giulio Romano, p. 221; Le Blanc, p. 540, n. 16.