Bacchanal
by CARPIONI, Giulio, Oil on canvas, 98 x 120 cm
The Bacchanal was a very popular subject in the arts. The most significant depictions of the subject were painted by Venetian artists, Giovanni Bellini and Titian in the early sixteenth century. Over the centuries the subject has inspired not just visual artists but also poets, writers, composers and choreographers. The Bacchanal was a favourite theme of Carpioni, and his numerous treatments of the subject may be counted among his most original paintings.
Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 7 minutes):
Camille Saint-Saëns: Samson et Delila, Act III, Scene 2, Bacchanal