Bacchus and Ariadne

Image credit: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

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Notes

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This painting is based on a famous work by Titian of the same subject. The theme of the painting is taken from an ancient Greek myth. In this scene the hero Theseus sails away after abandoning Ariadne on the island of Naxos. Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry, arrives to comfort her.

Luca Giordano painted this for the Rosso family in Florence. It covered an entire wall in their palace. It was later sold and brought to England. Edward Ellice, MP for Coventry, gave the painting to the city in 1855. He hoped it would be the start of a collection for a new art gallery. One story says that Ellice received the painting as part payment of a gambling debt.

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

Coventry

Title

Bacchus and Ariadne

Date

1674–1677

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 302 x W 582.5 cm

Accession number

VA.1955.0001

Acquisition method

gift from the Honourable Edward Ellice, MP for Coventry, 1855

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

Jordan Well, Coventry, West Midlands CV1 5QP England

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