Self-Portrait as Bacchus
c. 1595-1596 Uffizi Gallery, Florence
About this artwork
This iconic oil painting portrays Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, in a sensual and unconventional manner, reclining and holding a bunch of grapes. It was likely painted during Caravaggio's early patronage by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.
Did you know?
Caravaggio's "Bacchus" is notable for its innovative naturalism, depicting the god not as an idealized classical figure but as a recognizable young man with flushed cheeks and dirty fingernails, hinting at his earthly existence. The painting is also thought to be a self-portrait, adding a layer of personal introspection to this early masterpiece. It was commissioned by Cardinal del Monte for the entertainment of Ferdinando I de' Medici.
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Self-Portrait as Bacchus
Michelangelo da Caravaggio, c. 1595-1596
