On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02318
- Author
- Poussin, Nicholas (French)
- Title
- A Bacchic Scene
- Chronology
- 1630-1631
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 74 cm x 60 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
This subject is frequent in
Poussin's work. It presents a nude
bacchant holding a jug while a
goat-footed faun with an ivy-leaf
belt and crown drinks from a vessel
held by a cupid.
Unlike later works, this work give
more emphasis to the subject matter
than to the surrounding landscape,
combining mythology with nudity.
This would seem to indicate that
the scene refers to a specific text
which has yet to be
identified.
The rapid and careless technique is
combined with a very
straightforward composition
dominated by muted colors that are
heightened with a few touches of
red.
A replica of this canvas is at the
Pushkin Museum in Moscow, and it
has important similarities to The
Bacchant and the Satyr at the
National Gallery in Dublin.
This work is listed in the 1746
inventory of King Felipe V's
collection at the Palace of La
Granja de San Ildefonso. It entered
the Prado Museum in 1829.
Location on the map
