Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Workshop of Filippo Lauri (Rome, 1623 – 1694) - Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne
Oil on canvas (49 x 65 cm. - Framed 65 x 82 cm.)
Excellent condition
The beautiful painting on offer, depicting a love scene between Bacchus and Ariadne, is attributed to an artist active in Rome in the middle of the 17th century, who trained following the stylistic and compositional examples of the Roman Filippo Lauri (Rome, 1623 - 1694).
This type of mythological representation enjoyed great success, especially in Rome in the first part of the 17th century: at the beginning with Poussin, as the main exponent in the direct wake of Titian, then continuing with authoritative masters such as Lorrain, Spierinck and Lauri himself, artists who contributed to developing this theme in a fascinating convergence of artistic ideas.
Lauri, in particular, whose renowned workshop we can easily compare to the painting in question, was the author of exquisite compositions with mythological and Arcadian subjects, realised with grace and a rapid pictorial style, so much so that he obtained extraordinary success with the demanding aristocracy of the capital.
In particular, in the painting in question, we see a depiction of the amorous union between the god Dionysus, called Bacchus by the Romans, and the beautiful Ariadne, daughter of the Cretan king Minos. This episode is taken from classical sources, in particular from the Latin poet Ovid (Metamorphoses, book VIII), where the two lovers are immortalised during a celebration in honour of their wedding.
Ariadne, in love with Theseus, is deceived and abandoned by the young Athenian who, in exchange for her help in defeating the terrible Minotaur, had promised to marry her. The Athenian hero took her with him on his return to Athens, but when they arrived in Naxos he took advantage of a moment when the young woman had fallen asleep on the beach, and abandoned her.
After learning of her lover's betrayal, Ariadne began to despair without respite, until her sweet and sad lament reached the ears of the god Bacchus, son of Jupiter. When he saw her, he was fascinated by her beauty, fell madly in love and decided to take her as his wife. As a token of his love, he transformed the woman's crown into a constellation.
The canvas, which is based on the classical source, sets the scene in an idyllic landscape on the coast of the island, at the moment when the procession of the triumphant god bursts in, accompanied by nymphs, satyrs and dancing satyrs with Bacchus at the centre, surrounded by his procession, while he takes Ariadne's arm to propose to her.
Delevery information :
We take care of and organise the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
We take great care We personally take care of the packaging, to which we devote a great deal of care: each work is carefully packed, first with arti- cle material, then with a custom-made wooden box.
Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
