Bacchus

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And now, let's move to today's painting!

Bacchus, also known as Dionysus, was the Greek god of wine, inebriation, fertility, and theater. He was joyous and kind to his admirers but cruel and mischievous to those who crossed him. Scenes from Greek mythology were often featured in the private spaces of aristocrats, using classical images to depict their interests or triumphs. Patrons who valued the finer things in life often saw Bacchus as the perfect allegory for wealth and excess. Isn't it a perfect painting for today?  :D

Caravaggio depicts not only Bacchus but also a boy dressed as Bacchus. He is youthful and handsome, is round yet muscular. He barely attempts to keep his robes on, coaxing the viewer with a suggestive look in his eye. In the basket, there is a bursting pomegranate alongside a rotting apple. Caravaggio uses these elements to hint at the Vanitas theme, reminding us that youth and pleasure are fleeting and that everything eventually succumbs to death and decay. The rotting apple may also symbolize fermentation, suggesting that fermentation is a form of rot and that improper fermentation personifies decay.

P.S. Want to know a bit more about the art of this Baroque genius? Here are Caravaggio's 10 most important paintings to know!