Scene
A young man turns toward the viewer in a three-quarter pose. He holds a bunch of yellow-green grapes close to his face. A plain background emphasizes his isolation.
Sick Bacchus
Caravaggio
1593
Figures
The figure is Caravaggio depicted as Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. He wears a wreath of vine leaves but appears visibly ill and suffering.
Symbolism
The yellowing skin and eyes suggest illness, possibly jaundice. The grapes mirror the subject's sickly pallor. The humanized portrayal subverts traditional iconography.
Craft
The artist uses a subdued color palette of dark browns and greens. Cool highlights on the skin underscore the unhealthy appearance.
Impact
Art historians identify this as a self-portrait from a period of hospitalization. It is considered a transitional work and a psychologically complex painting.
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Tags
Craft
