Who painted Bacchus and Ceres?

Bacchus and Ceres was painted by Sebastiano Ricci in 1710.

Where can I see Bacchus and Ceres?

Bacchus and Ceres is held by Fitzwilliam Museum.

What movement is Bacchus and Ceres?

Bacchus and Ceres is associated with High Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Bacchus and Ceres

Sebastiano Ricci , 1710

Bacchus and Ceres is an oil painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Sebastiano Ricci. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Sebastiano Ricci’s oil painting Bacchus and Ceres dates from 1710 and belongs to the late Baroque period in Venice. The canvas presents a compact, nocturnal tableau in which three figures occupy a shadowy interior, their forms illuminated by a focused, golden light that heightens the emotional tension of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The composition draws on Roman mythology, pairing the god of wine, Bacchus, with the goddess of agriculture, Ceres. The reclining, shirtless male figure suggests a state of intoxicated languor, while the two women, one offering a gilded cup, the other observing, underscore themes of abundance, fertility, and the interplay between pleasure and vigilance.

Technique & Style

Ricci employs a dramatic chiaroscuro, contrasting deep, storm‑like darkness with a luminous glow that catches the skin and the golden cup. The brushwork is vigorous and fluid, characteristic of his luminous Baroque manner, while the soft modeling of the figures creates a sense of immediacy and three‑dimensional presence within the confined space.

History & Provenance

Created during Ricci’s mature phase, the work reflects his position among Venetian contemporaries such as Giambattista Piazzetta and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It entered the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it remains on display, providing insight into the artist’s mythological repertoire and his influence on younger painters, including his nephew Marco Ricci.

Context

The painting emerges from a period when Venetian artists revived classical subjects with heightened emotional intensity. Ricci’s approach blends the theatricality of High Baroque narrative with a personal, luminous palette, situating Bacchus and Ceres within the broader trend of mythological genre scenes that catered to aristocratic patrons seeking both erudition and visual drama.