The Birth of Bacchus, from "The Loves of the Gods" 1526 - 1536

"The Birth of Bacchus" is an etching by Giulio Bonasone, completed between 1526 and 1536. This print from "The Loves of the Gods" depicts the birth of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, as he is cradled by his mother Semele and attended to by Mercury. The dramatic sky above symbolizes the miraculous nature of the event as Mercury carries the baby Bacchus away, possibly to be raised by the nymphs. The image, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Bonasone's skill in depicting classical mythology through a Renaissance lens.