Bacchus and Ariadne c. 1676 - 1678
gerarddelairesse
oil painting
mythology
portrait art
Gerard de Lairesse's "Bacchus and Ariadne" (c. 1676-1678) depicts the Greek mythological scene of the god Bacchus comforting the abandoned Ariadne. The painting showcases Lairesse's mastery of Baroque style, evident in the dramatic composition and vibrant colors. Bacchus, adorned with a wreath of ivy and a red cloak, stands protectively over Ariadne who sits in a draped bed. The figures are portrayed with idealized beauty, a characteristic of Lairesse's work. The painting highlights the emotional intensity of the myth, capturing the tenderness of Bacchus's embrace and Ariadne's sorrow.
Comments
Ovid described the following scene in his Metamorphoses: on the island of Naxos, Bacchus, the god of wine, chances upon the heartbroken and abandoned Ariadne. He takes her as his wife and gives her a crown of seven stars, which he subsequently casts up into the heavens. Lairesse revived Dutch painting with a classicizing style that was inspired by works from Greek and Roman antiquity.
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