"Bacchus" by Rubens and the concept of "bacchanalia"

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"Bacchus" by Rubens and the concept of "bacchanalia"
"Bacchus" by Rubens and the concept of "bacchanalia"

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The Flemish painter Rubens is a master who painted in the Baroque style. Many art lovers identify his canvases with this style. Cheerful bright images that have a huge amount of detail. They celebrate life in all its manifestations. The artist was especially good at depicting the heroes of the myths of Ancient Greece. Rubens' painting "Bacchus" is proof of this.

Who is Bacchus?

He is the god of winemaking, and he has several other names - Dionysus, Bacchus. He is also the lord of the life force, of everything that grows and develops. He always appears in the company of charmers who do not have a sense of shame. Wine flows like a stream next to him, everyone celebrates and forgets about the troubles. He is glad to everyone who wants to have fun, to forget.

Painting by Rubens "Bacchus"
Painting by Rubens "Bacchus"

Description of the picture

Bacchus Rubens is a fat man who sits on a barrel of strong and sweet wine. His head is crowned with a wreath woven from a vine and bunches. Heraises a cup with an alcoholic drink. The face of God is flabby and wrinkled from a not entirely righteous lifestyle. Weariness is visible in his eyes. He is about to go to bed.

The rest of the people on Rubens' painting "Bacchus" also drink. Nearby is a man who pours wine into his mouth straight from a jug. One lady, not ashamed, parted her breasts, and at the same time pours wine to God.

The painting by Rubens "Bacchus" also depicts children. This is the strangest thing a person with a normal upbringing can see. One kid drinks wine straight from the cup of Bacchus. The second is emptying his bladder, apparently to get rid of what he has already drunk.

Peter Paul Rubens "Bacchus"
Peter Paul Rubens "Bacchus"

Under the god's foot, a huge cat lay imposingly. She allowed herself to be pushed onto her side and lazily rubs against her master.

The picture of Peter Paul Rubens "Bacchus" tells about the rejection of any moral prohibitions. The god of wine calls to relax to such an extent that for a while you forget about everything, become drunk, a little crazy, out of your mind with happiness.

Bacchanalia

On behalf of Bacchus, the word "bacchanalia" went - that is, revelry, drunkenness, orgies, often accompanied by scenes of sexual violence. Such events were the norm for ancient Rome. In modern speech, people use this word often, not really understanding what exactly it means.

Bacchanalia is a ritual that was performed as a sign of service to the god Bacchus. It came to Ancient Rome from the East, where holidays of this type were held after the grape harvest. The first time in suchOnly women took part in the events. They gathered on a dark night in an olive grove on the very outskirts of the city, away from prying eyes. The ladies drank, and with the help of taking large doses of alcohol, they brought themselves to a state of trance, religious frenzy and hysteria. The participants of this holiday did not know the measure, often it ended in injury or even murder.

Painting by Rubens "Bacchus"
Painting by Rubens "Bacchus"

Things got much worse when the stronger sex joined in such festivities. Events began to be held much more often, no one looked back at the dates on the calendar. Men and women on a drunken coven were engaged in outright debauchery. Orgies were common.

Prohibition of the Roman Senate

In addition, political intrigues began to weave at such gatherings. This was the reason for the intervention of the Roman Senate. He issued a series of decrees by which he forbade such "fun". The participants began to be persecuted and punished, but it was very difficult to fight the orgy, and the process went on for a very long time.

The theme of bacchanalia made a strong impression on entire generations of painters. Rubens became the ancestor of the theme for paintings, which were in demand by aristocrats. Many of them admired the scenes and sighed enviously, looking at this holiday of unbridledness and the rejection of any moral prohibitions.

Where is the painting today?

Now the painting "Bacchus" can be seen in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. According to Rubens' nephew, the canvas was not painted to order, and until the last days of the authorkept in his workshop. Despite some lewdness, which is depicted on the canvas, the picture impresses with its warm colors, lightness and mobility of images.

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