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.
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.
