Giovanni Bellini and Titian The painting's ribald subject comes from Ovid's Fasti, a classical poem that recounts the origins of many ancient Roman rites and festivals. Ovid (43 BC–AD 17) described an incident that embarrassed Priapus, god of fertility, during a woodland banquet for Olympian gods and goddesses. The beautiful nymph Lotis, shown reclining at the far right, was lulled into sleep by wine. Priapus, overcome with lust, seized the opportunity to seduce her. His attempt was foiled when an ass, seen at left, "with raucous braying, gave out an ill-timed roar. Awakened, the startled nymph pushed Priapus away, and the god was laughed at by all." His pride wounded, Priapus demanded thereafter the annual sacrifice of a donkey. |