Bakkanal med Silén 1470 - 1500

"Bakkanal med Silén" is a pen drawing by Andrea Mantegna, dating from c. 1470-1500. The drawing depicts a Bacchanalian procession, a scene of revelry and celebration centered around the god Bacchus. The central figure of Silenus, a drunken and boisterous companion of Bacchus, is surrounded by figures playing music and dancing. Mantegna's masterful use of line and shading creates a sense of depth and movement in the scene. This drawing is considered a prime example of Mantegna's skill in depicting the human form. It is currently housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen.