Bacchus Seated on a Barrel between Amor and Music
1590
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1590
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows three figures in a lush, wooded scene. The central figure, a muscular man with a wreath of leaves, sits on a barrel, holding a goblet and a staff. To his left, a bearded man plays a large horn, while a small cherub kneels nearby, holding a bow. The background has crumbling ruins, vines, and a cloudy sky. Notice the tiny Latin words on a scroll near the center—it’s a list of things Bacchus (the seated figure) controls, like music and love. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and textures, making the scene feel three-dimensional. Want to see how this kind of detailed linework was made? Look up engraving.
