Young Sick Bacchus Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio – Young Sick Bacchus
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Painter: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
Location: Borghese gallery, Rome (Galleria Borghese).
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"The Sick Bacchus" is an early work by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, painted in 1593. Executed in the genre of mythological painting, it was a reflection of the artist’s reflections on the weakness of human life. The drama of Caravaggio’s work, characteristic of his later works, first appeared in this painting. After a long stay in hospital and leaving his room, the painter, who had not yet fully recovered, took out a blank canvas under the influence of inspiration and set to work.
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Description of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s painting The Sick Bacchus
"The Sick Bacchus" is an early work by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, painted in 1593. Executed in the genre of mythological painting, it was a reflection of the artist’s reflections on the weakness of human life. The drama of Caravaggio’s work, characteristic of his later works, first appeared in this painting.
After a long stay in hospital and leaving his room, the painter, who had not yet fully recovered, took out a blank canvas under the influence of inspiration and set to work. At that time he was strapped for cash, so he had to do without a sitter.
The master painted his self-portrait in the image of the ancient Greek character Bacchus: lifeless extinguished look, pale yellowish skin, weak hands holding a bunch of already rotting grapes.
Bacchus is one of the names of the mythological Dionysus, deity of winemaking and vegetation in general, as well as of inspiration. Caravaggio’s head is not enwrapped in the traditional wreath of vine leaves, but in the withered leaves of an unknown species of tree.
The healthy, handsome, flowering god of wine with the Greeks becomes unremarkable, ostensibly serious and sickly with the Italian. The real Bacchus, according to legend, wears a tan like all the inhabitants of the divine Olympus, and the character on the canvas has no bronze patina on his skin at all.
The artist seems to mock at his own temporary ugliness and powerlessness, at the earthly nature of people, and at the same time, at the lofty ideals of the Renaissance.
The impeccably drawn fruits of black and white grapes with a couple of ripe peaches give Caravaggio away as a brilliant painter of still life. The hand of the master is easily recognized by the clearly expressed contrasts in the painting, emotionality, plasticity and conciseness.
Today, the masterpiece "The Sick Bacchus" is in the Borghese Gallery in the painter’s homeland.
COMMENTS: 3 Ответы
клод моне велик стогами, а караводжио живостью глаз
С детства эта картина меня завораживает
Больной больного для боли больных. Но со вкусами не спорю, просто удивляюсь.
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The artist’s use of light is striking; it illuminates the figures skin, highlighting its texture and musculature while leaving much of the background in deep shadow. This dramatic contrast, known as chiaroscuro, draws immediate attention to the subject and creates a sense of theatricality. The play of light also emphasizes the pallor of his complexion, suggesting an underlying fragility that contradicts the traditional image of youthful exuberance.
The figure’s pose is relaxed yet uneasy. He leans heavily on the ledge, conveying a feeling of weakness or discomfort. His gaze is directed towards the viewer, but it lacks directness; theres a certain hesitancy in his expression, as if he is both aware of and uncomfortable with being observed. The grapes, typically symbols of abundance and revelry, appear almost burdensome in his grasp.
The subtexts within this work are complex. While the ivy crown and the presence of grapes allude to associations with Dionysian mythology – a figure often linked to wine, pleasure, and ecstatic abandon – the overall impression is one of decline rather than celebration. The sickly pallor, the weary posture, and the hesitant gaze suggest a corruption or perversion of this traditional iconography. It’s possible that the artist intended to explore themes of mortality, decadence, or the fleeting nature of beauty and pleasure. The juxtaposition of classical references with an unsettling emotional tone creates a sense of ambiguity and invites contemplation on the darker aspects of human experience.