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Michel-Ange Houasse, son of the painter René-Antoine Houasse (c.1645-1710), had enjoyed a long career during the reign of Louis XIV of France (r.1643-1715). From 1715 until his death, Michel-Ange worked in the court in Madrid during the reign of the first Bourbon monarch, Philip V (r.1700-24 and 1724-46), creating interesting landscape paintings, genre scenes, religious paintings and portra
This pagan scene shows the offer that the Bacchants, or followers of Bacchus, made to their god. In the center, a priest offers the sacrifice on an altar in front of the statue of the deity crowned with grape leaves. All around, those attending the feast drink, or appear totally inebriated, sleeping off the effects of the wine. This mythological scene shows how Houasse was influenced by the tradit
In his interpretation of the traditional subject of the Holy Family Houasse evokes the French tradition of the second half of the 17th century century, imbuing it with the currently fashionable Italianate air. Within the overall darkness a powerful light source highlights the figures of the Virgin and Child and the infant Saint John the Baptist. The less prominent Saint Joseph watches them from th
