Bacchanal with Figures Carrying a Vase
1650s
Medium
etching with engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 26.2 x 20.2 cm (10 5/16 x 7 15/16 in.) sheet: 38.5 x 26.8 cm (15 3/16 x 10 9/16 in.)
Classification
Portfolio
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2005.127.9
Art Historical Context
In the lively etching *Bacchanal with Figures Carrying a Vase*, French artist Michel Dorigny captures the exuberant spirit of classical revelry during the 1650s, a peak of Baroque art. This print depicts figures joyously carrying a vase—likely brimming with wine—in a scene inspired by Dionysian myths, evoking the uninhibited pleasures of ancient bacchanals. Dorigny's work reflects the era's fascination with mythological themes, blending French elegance with Italian influences from his time in Rome. Created through the meticulous techniques of etching and engraving on laid paper, the plate mea...
About the Artist
Michel Dorigny · 1616–1665
French painter. Comment on works: Painter; History; Portrait; Engraver; Religious; Mythology; Draughtsman