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Bacchanal

Giovanni David

1775

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Bacchanal is a 1775 ink by Giovanni David, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giovanni David
When & what style?: 1775 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a group of people in a wild, outdoor setting. They're gathered around a large, dark shape that looks like a boat or a table. The people are mostly naked, and they're all doing different things. Some are lying down, some are standing up, and some are holding objects. The background is dark and blurry, but you can see some trees and rocks. The people in the painting seem to be in a state of chaos or celebration. They're all moving and interacting with each other in different ways. The overall mood of the painting is one of energy and excitement. If you're interested in learning more about this style of art, you might want to look into the Romanticism movement.