1628
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Drunken Silenus is a 1628 ink by Jusepe de Ribera, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a messy, chaotic scene with three figures sprawled on the ground. One man leans against a barrel, holding a cup, while another lies drunk nearby. A child sits between them, looking up with a basket of grapes. The background has crumbling walls and scattered objects like barrels and broken tools. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to make the figures look rough and real. The messy details—like the grapes and the man’s unkempt hair—add to the sense of chaos. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Ribera created textures with ink and metal plates.
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
See the richer artist page
