DISCOVERART

Giulio Carpioni

Bacchanal

1633/78
Etching on ivory laid paper
12.3 × 40.6 cm (4.8 × 16 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The 18th-century author P. A. Orlandi once described Carpioni’s mythological etchings as “perfect conceptions, such as dreams, sacrifices, bacchanals, triumphs, dances of ‘putti,’ the most attractive caprices and fantasies that a painter, inclined to work on a small scale, has ever conceived.” This bacchanal of dwarf-like humans and shaggy satyr youths becomes more enigmatic with the addition of the figures at right. The naked man lounges in the pose of a statue of a river god, but his placement before an ancient altar relief, with a glimpse of a covered basket, implies that one of the ritual mysteries is taking place in conjunction with the wine consumption.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Giulio Carpioni

The Sacrifice of PolyxenaThe Sacrifice of Polyxena(R.)Figure Studies: Standing Nude Figure, Putti, and a Man's Head (V.) Figure Studies: A Flying and a Standing Man(R.)Figure Studies: Standing Nude Figure, Putti, and a Man'sFigure Studies: Men Standing by a Large Vase, a Falling Nude Figure, and Other FiguresFigure Studies: Men Standing by a Large Vase, a Falling NudeAir, represented by Iris reclining on her rainbow, accompanied by a winged putto bearing a torch and another winged putto riding an eagle, from "The Elements"Air, represented by Iris reclining on her rainbow, accompaniWater, represented by a naiad seated at the base of a tree and resting her arm on a supine urn from which water flows, behind her a triton and other inhabitants of the sea rise from the water surface, from "The Elements"Water, represented by a naiad seated at the base of a tree aFire, represented by Venus seated before Vulcan's forge, with armor, a cannon, and cannon balls surrounding her, she turns her head toward Cupid, who stretches his body away from her, from "The Elements"Fire, represented by Venus seated before Vulcan's forge, witPenitent Magdalen kneeling on a rocky ground before a skull and bones, an ointment jar lies in the left foreground, rays of light and winged putti descend from abovePenitent Magdalen kneeling on a rocky ground before a skull Bacchanalian Group with Children DrinkingBacchanalian Group with Children Drinking

More like this

Satyr Resting beneath a HermGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione — Satyr Resting beneath a HerChildren's GamesPierre Brebiette — Children's GamesArrival at the Grape Press, plate four of four from Le Travaux de la VendangeJoseph Marie Vien, I — Arrival at the Grape Press, plate fouBacchanalNicolas Poussin — BacchanalScene of Grape HarvestUnknown Artist French, 19th century — Scene of Grape HarvestPan Reclining before a Large VaseGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione — Pan Reclining before a LargNymphs and SatyrsPierre Thomas Leclerc — Nymphs and SatyrsSatyrs Family, from Bacchanales, or Satyrs' GamesJean Honoré Fragonard — Satyrs Family, from Bacchanales, or Fete of PanGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Italian, 1609–1664) — Fete oSatyr with Club and Seven Figures, from "Bacchanals and Histories"Francesco Fontebasso — Satyr with Club and Seven Figures, frNaiades, Tritons and the Bath of PriapPierre Alexandre Aveline|François Boucher — Naiades, TritonsPan reclincing near a large vase set in a landscapeGiovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Il Grechetto) — Pan reclinci