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Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine

1628
Not on view
Ribera's etchings helped him to establish a reputation far beyond Naples, where he lived for most of his life. This etching is often considered his greatest. It relates to a painting he had produced two years earlier now in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples. Occupying the foreground Silenus is crowned by Pan, who is identified by his leopard skin cloak and pan pipes and staff at his feet. Silenus raises his cup to accept another drink of wine. His action is humorously echoed by the two infants at right engaged in similar activities, one of which has passed out. The braying donkey at right adds to the hilarity of the composition. For his composition, Ribera drew inspiration from the prints of other artists, including Mantegna's pair of Bacchanals (29.44.15) and Annibale Carracci's Drunken Silenus (27.78.1.150).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine
  • Artist: Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) (Spanish, Játiva 1591–1652 Naples)
  • Date: 1628
  • Medium: Etching with drypoint, engraving, and burnishing
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 10 11/16 in. × 14 in. (27.2 × 35.5 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: 22.67.14
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Oil on canvas
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
1648
Rapier, Steel, blade, Spanish, Toledo; hilt, European, possibly Spanish
Rapier
blade, Spanish, Toledo; hilt, European, possibly Spanish
blade, ca. 1635; hilt, late 17th century
Reclining Female Nude, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching, drypoint, and engraving on Japanese paper; second of six states
Reclining Female Nude
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1658
The Tears of Saint Peter, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Oil on canvas
The Tears of Saint Peter
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
ca. 1612–13
Self-Portrait, Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Brush and point of brush, carbon black ink
Self-Portrait
Draftsman Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
Sitter Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
ca. 1796

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