Drunken Silenus

1650s

Michel Dorigny

Associated Names
Michel Dorigny

Artist, French, 1617 - 1665

Basan

Publisher, French

The image shows mythical creatures beneath a large tree. Various mythical beings and animals are present, including fauns, satyrs, and goats or deer. The setting is a forest with detailed trees in the background. Cross-hatching technique is used to create depth and texture. The composition portrays movement and interaction among the creatures, suggesting a narrative of celebration or gathering.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching with engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    plate: 19.8 x 29.9 cm (7 13/16 x 11 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 38.5 x 26.8 cm (15 3/16 x 10 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2005.127.11

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Robert-Dumesnil, no. 14, State undesc iii/iii

  • Series Title

    Recueil de douze Bacchanales

Associated Artworks

See all 13 artworks
The image depicts swirling lines and organic shapes in vibrant colors. The pattern resembles marbling technique often found on paper covers or endpapers. Colors include red, blue, orange, and green with dotted textures. A shield-like shape interrupts the pattern, providing light blank space amidst the colorful swirls.

Recueil de Douze Bacchanales

Michel Dorigny, Nicolas Chapron, Basan, Nicolas Cochin

1617

This is a drawing of an ornate title page design. The drawing features a decorative frame with the text "RECUEIL DE DOUZE BACCHANALES De Poussin, Chappron, D'Origny, et autres - A PARIS, Chez Basan." The frame is adorned with illustrations of swirling clouds or smoke, grapevines, and a central figure at the top that resembles a classical mythological representation. The design has elaborate line work, typical of engravings for title pages or frontispieces.

Frontispiece

Nicolas Cochin, Basan

1610

This is a drawing of three cherub-like figures in a natural setting with a tree. The scene depicts these figures engaging with their surroundings, with one cherub reaching up towards the branches of a tree. The tree has detailed bark and the ground is scattered with vessels, including an amphora. In the background, there are elements of nature such as foliage and faint hills. The style of line work and cross-hatching enhances the depth and shadow, emphasizing the contours of the figures and the natural environment.

Putti and Fauns Climbing a Grapevine

Michel Dorigny, Basan

1617

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1967

  • Robert-Dumesnil, A.P.F. Le peintre-graveur francais, ou catalogue raisonne des estampes gravees par les peintres et les dessinateurs de l'ecole francaise, ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de M. Bartsch. Reprint (11 vols. in 6). Paris: F. deNobe

Inscriptions

lower center in plate: Cum Privel Regis Christian; upper left in plate: 10

Wikidata ID

Q76348841

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