1596
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Cult of Bacchus is a 1596 ink by Jan Pietersz Saenredam, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a half-naked woman holding a bunch of grapes and a long cloth. Around her, three men sit on a rocky ground, looking up at her. One man holds a hat, another has a cup, and the third leans forward with his hand on his knee. The scene is full of plants, vines, and grapes, and the lines are all drawn with sharp, precise strokes. The woman looks like a god or a mythical figure, not a real person. The Latin words at the bottom suggest this is about a story or celebration, not just a random scene. Next, look up technique: engraving to see how artists like Saenredam made these detailed prints.
Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
