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This is a drawing of cherubic figures engaged in a playful gathering. The scene features several cherubic figures, some of which are seated while others stand, holding and seemingly distributing grapes among themselves. A goat is also present in the image, alongside a classical urn or vase in the background. Delicate foliage and leaves cascade from the top, framing the scene. The image's title is "Bacchanal." The figures are depicted in a light, whimsical manner with an expressive use of line to highlight movement and liveliness within the composition.
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This is a drawing of cherubic figures engaged in a playful gathering. The scene features several cherubic figures, some of which are seated while others stand, holding and seemingly distributing grapes among themselves. A goat is also present in the image, alongside a classical urn or vase in the background. Delicate foliage and leaves cascade from the top, framing the scene. The image's title is "Bacchanal." The figures are depicted in a light, whimsical manner with an expressive use of line to highlight movement and liveliness within the composition.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bacchanale

François-Philippe Charpentier, after Jacob de Wit

Date
1766
Medium
etching and aquatint with roulette printed in brown on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 21.5 × 13.5 cm (8 7/16 × 5 5/16 in.) sheet: 28.8 × 20 cm (11 5/16 × 7 7/8 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2018.91.25
Credit line
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record

Subjects and terms

  • etching
  • aquatint
  • classical
  • mythology
Provenance

(James A. Bergquist, Newton Centre, MA); purchased 2018 by NGA.

Inscription

lower left in plate: J. Wic inv.; ower right in plate: F. P. Charpentier s.; lower center in plate: BACCANAL; by later hand, lower left in graphite: 12

Watermarks

T DUPUY (partial)

NGA object ID 215421. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.