The Drunken SiIenus: Design for the "Tazza Farnese"
The debauched god Silenus of Greek mythology reclines in the center, already drunk and about to continue imbibing wine from the sack held by a horned satyr and a nude youth, while at either side putti climbing on the ornamental vines of the frame offer grapes to the group. This final, highly finished demonstration drawing is for a standing silver cup or salver (the "Tazza Farnese"), for Annibale's patron Cardinal Odoardo Farnese and is one of the only signed drawings by the artist. The "Tazza Farnese" is no longer extant. A silver plaque (Museo Nazionale, Naples), probably a copy rather than an original piece from the "Tazza" was rediscovered in 1955. It was apparently used for printmaking, and pulls from it were taken from a fairly early date onward. Two other studies by Annibale for this silver plaque have survived (British Museum, London; and Art Institute of Chicago [formerly in the Ellesmere collection]), and represent earlier stages of the design. With respect to the Naples plaque, the present drawing reveals only minor changes.
Annibale produced a number of preparatory sketches for the Farnese cup, including this one, in which the border is incised for transfer. The figural scene is not incised, and some changes are evident in the print that records the finished design: the position of the figures has been shifted, and the thyrsos, a staff carried by followers of Bacchus, has been replaced with the shepherd's crook that is an attribute of Pan.
Annibale produced a number of preparatory sketches for the Farnese cup, including this one, in which the border is incised for transfer. The figural scene is not incised, and some changes are evident in the print that records the finished design: the position of the figures has been shifted, and the thyrsos, a staff carried by followers of Bacchus, has been replaced with the shepherd's crook that is an attribute of Pan.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Drunken SiIenus: Design for the "Tazza Farnese"
- Artist: Annibale Carracci (Italian, Bologna 1560–1609 Rome)
- Date: 1599–1600
- Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black chalk, and stylus compass constructions; framing lines in pen and brown ink and black chalk or charcoal
- Dimensions: sheet: 10 1/16 x 10 1/16 in. (25.6 x 25.5 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick and Rogers Funds, 1972
- Object Number: 1972.133.4
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Annibale Carracci
1560–1609
Annibale Carracci
Pietro Stefanoni
ca. 1591
Annibale Carracci
before 1593
Annibale Carracci
1606
Annibale Carracci
1582
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.