Artwork
Bacchante on a Panther
Bacchante on a Panther is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist William Adolphe Bouguereau. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1980.238.2
- Credit line
- Bequest of Noah L. Butkin
About this work
This painting shows a woman riding a spotted panther. She’s draped in red and gold, holding a thyrsus, a staff wrapped in ivy. The gold background feels flat, like a shiny mosaic.
The artist copied old Roman wall paintings here. Bouguereau made six of these scenes for a Paris house. They mix myth with bold colors and clean outlines.
Look up William Adolphe Bouguereau (French, 1825–1905) next.
Overview
Bacchante on a Panther is a painting by William Adolphe Bouguereau, created as part of a series of six works decorating a Parisian residence.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a bacchante, a female follower of the god Bacchus, riding a panther, an animal symbolizing the deity. The figure is adorned in red and gold, holding a thyrsus, a staff entwined with ivy, signifying her association with Bacchic rituals.
Technique & Style
Characterized by crisp, defined forms against a gold background, the painting emulates ancient Roman mosaic art. The artist employed bold colors and clean outlines, blending mythological themes with a distinctive visual style.
History & Provenance
The work was exhibited at the 1857 Paris Salon as part of a series of six paintings commissioned for Etienne Bartholony's Paris house.
Artist & collection
Artist
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French pronunciation:; 30 November 1825 – 19 August 1905) was a French academic painter.
