Bacchus and Ceres Leaving Venus (Sine Cerere et Baccho Friget Venus)

Art Historical Context

Jan Harmensz. Muller’s *Bacchus and Ceres Venus (Sine Cer et Baccho Friget)*, created around 1597, is a masterful engraving that captures a whimsical yet poignant mythological scene. The title draws from a Latin proverb—“Without Ceres and Bac, Venus grows cold”—izing how love (Venus) withers without sustenance (Ceres, goddess of grain) and revelry (Bacchus, god of wine). Muller, Dutch engraver active in Antwerp, deftly renders the deities in dynamic poses, evoking the sensuous elegance of Italian Renaissance masters like Paolo Veronese, whose compositions he often reproduced. Printed on luxurious ivory laid paper, this large-scale engraving (plate measures 50.3 × 35.5 cm) showcases Muller’s virtuoso technique. Fine, intricate lines create rich tonal contrasts and textures, from flowing drapery to lush landscapes, making it a pinnacle of Northern Mannerist printmaking. At the time, such engravings democratized high art, allowing collectors across Europe to own affordable versions of grand paintings. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings Department, this work highlights the cultural exchange between Italy and the Netherlands in the late 16th century. It reminds visitors of engraving’s power to blend opulence with accessibility, inviting us to ponder the timeless interplay of indulgence, nourishment, and desire.

About the Artist

Jan Harmensz. Muller · 1571–1628

Comment on works: Printer and Draughtsman