Pittore fiammingo del XVIII secolo Trionfo di... Lot n° 127

One of the most famous moments in the myth linking Bacchus and Ariadne is illustrated in this delicate watercolor on cardboard-embellished with a rich gilded frame. The princess daughter of King Minos and Pasiphae, after being abandoned by her beloved Theseus on the island of Naxos, is joined by the god Bacchus, who rescues her by making her his bride.Often, as in this case, the theme of rescue is complemented by a procession of characters indicating the marriage theme that accompanies the couple.Behind Ariadne is visible a Nike carrying a flashlight, while at her feet, a putto offers her a necklace as a gift. On the right side of the composition, on the other hand, a satyr and a nymph bring the couple a basket full of delicious fruits, as a wish for a bond under the banner of joy and abundance. Above, Cupid is depicted with his eyes closed in the act of shooting the arrow that unites the lovers in a deep bond; in the background is the ship in which the god has come to the rescue of his bride. Finally, it is possible to catch a glimpse, lagging behind the rest of the procession, of the donkey ridden by Silenus: it almost seems possible to hear the verses written by Lorenzo the Magnificent in 1490: "This pack, that comes drieto above the donkey, is Silenus: so old is he intoxicated and glad, already full of flesh and years; if he cannot stand upright, at least he laughs and enjoys nevertheless. He who wants to be happy, let him be: of tomorrow there is no certainty. "The light technique, the amorous subject matter, and the small size of the work suggest that this work was made for a private client, intended for mostly decorative use, made in the Flemish sphere perhaps on the model of an Italian decorative cycle of the seventeenth century. Bibl.: R. Bruscagli, ed, Trionfi e canti carnascialeschi toscani del Rinascimento, Salerno, 1986. Watercolor on cardboard, cm est. 66x54, int. 51X39