Fries met een triomfwagen waarin de jonge Bacchus zit 1510 - 1550

Sebald Beham created this tiny, intricate print of ‘Fries met een triomfwagen waarin de jonge Bacchus zit’ without a known date. This artwork presents a parade of cherubic figures surrounding the young god Bacchus in his chariot. Made in 16th century Germany, this print reveals the cultural fascination with classical mythology during the Renaissance. Bacchus, the god of wine, fertility, and theatre, was a popular figure, symbolizing abundance and celebration. The procession itself, rendered in miniature, is a visual reference to ancient Roman triumphs, which were public displays of military victory. The work would have been made for a wealthy patron, demonstrating the visual culture of the elite classes. As historians, understanding this print involves examining the social function of art in Beham's time, considering how it reflects both the revival of classical themes and the social hierarchies of the period. We might consider sources such as contemporary texts on mythology, social histories of the period, and studies of artistic patronage.