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Bacchus

Hendrik Goltzius

1595

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology

Dominant colour

Bacchus is a 1595 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Hendrik Goltzius
When & what style?: 1595 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

The painting depicts a robust male figure, Bacchus, standing on a rocky outcropping. He is nude, with a cloak draped over his left shoulder and a wreath of leaves on his head. In his right hand, he holds a bunch of grapes, while his left hand grasps a wine cup. Bacchus's facial expression is one of contentment, with his mouth slightly open and his eyes cast downward. The background of the painting is a warm, earthy tone, with hints of gold and brown that evoke a sense of luxury and opulence. The use of chiaroscuro woodcut techniques adds depth and dimension to the painting, creating a sense of volume and texture. For more on the artist behind this work, explore the art of Goltzius, Hendrick.

About the artist

Artist

Hendrik Goltzius

Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.

See the richer artist page