Bacchus (Leonardo)

Bacchus (it.: Bacco ) is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519 ). It is dated to 1510-1515 and is in the inventory of the Louvre in Paris.

The work

The painting depicts a seated male figure with leopard skin in an idyllic landscape. He points with his right hand to his left. With his left hand he grasps the thyrsus, and points with his index finger on the ground.

The painting was originally titled John the Baptist. In the late 17th century, between the years 1683 and 1693, it was modified and painted to represent Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and intoxication. Even in 1683 it was Désert in the catalog of the royal collection of the castle Fontainebleau as " Saint Jean au " ( German: " Saint John in the Desert" ) inventoried. In the year 1693 it was known as " Bacchus dans un paysage " referred to ( " Bacchus in a Landscape" ). The original title was deleted.

The Roman scholar Cassiano dal Pozzo and patron (1588-1657), who saw the work in 1625, in its original state in Fontainebleau, reported that the image neither dignity nor possessed decency. In fact, Leonardo is the Holy youthful and slightly androgynous dar. It is possible that it was decided to paint over or renaming, because the appearance of the Baptist contradicted the then artistic conventions. The presentation is similar to Leonardo da Vinci's painting of John the Baptist, also held by the Louvre, depicts the saint as half figure with facing upwards forefinger.

Attribution

The attribution of the picture is controversial. The painting is based on proven designs and sketches of Leonardo da Vinci. However, it is believed that it was run by an unknown student from the workshop of Leonardo. As a possible creator of Cesare da Sesto apply (1477-1523), Marco d' Oggiono ( 1475 - 1530 ), Francesco Melzi (around 1491/92 - 1570 ) and Cesare Bernazano. The composition and the chiaroscuro of color reproduction but are mainly attributed to Leonardo himself.