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Bacchus and Ariadne

1720s
Not on view
When Bacchus arrived on the island of Naxos, he found the beautiful daughter of Minos, Ariadne, who had been abandoned by Theseus. Bacchus married her and her crown was transformed into a constellation by Jupiter. In the present picture Bacchus, wearing vine leaves in his hair, places a ring on Ariadne's finger. The subject was treated by Pellegrini a number of times. The present picture may date from after 1721, following Pellegrini's return to Venice and his extensive work in England, Düsseldorf, the Low Countries, and Paris.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bacchus and Ariadne
  • Artist: Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini (Italian, Venice 1675–1741 Venice)
  • Date: 1720s
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 46 x 50 1/2 in. (116.8 x 128.3 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Victor Thaw, 1984
  • Object Number: 1984.458
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
The Annunciation, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over graphite or lead; framing lines with scalloped top border in brush and brown wash
The Annunciation
Attributed to Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini
1695–1741
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
Lobster-Tail Burgonet
North Italian
ca. 1610
Comtesse de la Châtre (Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps, 1762–1848), Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun French, Oil on canvas
Comtesse de la Châtre (Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps, 1762–1848)
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun
1789
Design for a Ceiling: Allegories of the Four Continents, Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini Italian, Brush and gray wash, over graphite or lead; framing lines in pen and black ink; four sections of paper, two center parts joined together
Design for a Ceiling: Allegories of the Four Continents
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini
1725
Armor, Steel, copper alloy, textile, leather, Italian
Armor
Italian
ca. 1400–1450 and later

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