Who painted Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes?

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes was painted by Johann Matthias Kager in 1594.

Where can I see Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes?

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes?

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes?

Museum-quality prints of Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes

Johann Matthias Kager , 1594

Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Johann Matthias Kager. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, lower right corner in graphite: MG

About this work

Overview

Johann Matthias Kager’s drawing, dated around 1594, is a pen and black‑ink composition with gray wash applied over graphite on laid paper. Titled Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Freezes, the work presents a mythological gathering rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a semi‑nude group assembled around a banquet table laden with food and wine. A woman on the left holds a cloth, while other figures sit or kneel, partaking in the feast. In the distant background, an arched window frames a figure clutching a globe and another standing on a pedestal, suggesting a narrative beyond the immediate revelry.

Technique & Style

Kager employs simple, fluid lines to outline the figures, supplemented by gray wash to model volume and suggest movement. The graphite underdrawing remains visible, giving the work a provisional quality that emphasizes gesture over finish. This approach aligns with the practice of rapid study sketches common among late‑Renaissance artists.

Context

Created in the late sixteenth century, the drawing reflects the period’s interest in classical mythology and allegorical banquet scenes. Its informal execution contrasts with the more polished paintings of the era, illustrating how artists used drawing as a tool for compositional experimentation and narrative planning.