Jean Jacques Spoede, Triumph of Bacchus, 1730, Oil on Canvas, Framed

Details

Description

Jean jacques spoede (antwerp 1680 - paris 1757)

triumph of bacchus

oil on canvas (66 x 83 cm - framed … Read more Jean jacques spoede (antwerp 1680 - paris 1757)

triumph of bacchus

oil on canvas (66 x 83 cm - framed 84 x 101 cm)

full details (click here)

in this fascinating painting, attributed to jean jacques spoede (antwerp, 1680 – turin, 1752), we find ourselves immersed in the beating heart of a bacchanal, a pagan festival in honor of bacchus, god of wine and drunkenness, a dionysian celebration that blends sensuality, mythology, and unbridled joy.

this is a fascinating subject, with ancient origins, specifically the propitiatory celebrations held at the end of the grape harvest as a rite of thanksgiving and conviviality, engaging the farming community with dance and song. These celebrations were often accompanied by theatrical performances dedicated to the veneration of bacchus, due to his ancestral ties to the roman god of wine.

a flemish painter active in italy, spoede is known for his ability to blend nordic precision with the elegance and theatricality of the italian baroque. After moving to turin, he worked for the court of savoy, distinguishing himself for his mythological and allegorical scenes, and our painting is a perfect example: refined, cultured, but also surprisingly sensual.

a painting of his, very similar in subject and detail, is currently on display at the national museum in poznań, painted between 1720 and 1730 (oil on canvas, 120 x 160 cm, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:spoede_bacchanals.jpg *)

the image offers an opulent and lively vision, a work that exalts the beauty of the body, the joy of the senses, and the freedom of the spirit, in a true apotheosis of the myth of bacchus, offering the viewer a timeless universe, where myth and nature, art and desire merge in an eternal embrace.

at the center of the composition is a monumental wine barrel adorned with vine shoots, reminiscent of a profane altar, around which an exuberant dance of bodies unfolds, accompanied by the music of flutes and tambourines. Half-naked bodies and mythological figures, with satyrs and nymphs intertwine in a whirlwind of movement, music, and pleasure. A satyr in the center, crowned with vine leaves, raises his cup to the sky in an ecstatic gesture, evoking the spirit of bacchus, celebrating wine as divine sap.

on the ground, children, both satyrs and humans, play among bunches of grapes, personifying innocence lost in sensual lust, and a leopard, alluding to the wild and primordial energy that characterizes these celebrations.

the setting is lush: a luxuriant nature embraces an architectural fountain in the background, almost a forgotten temple, now reborn in dionysian rejoicing. A golden light, typical of baroque painting, caresses the bodies and faces, enhancing the sensuality and euphoria of the moment.

this setting serves as an imaginary portal between the earthly world and the mythological sphere: on the left side, some farmers with baskets overflowing with grapes, the fruit of the harvest, watch the a scene of wonder or veneration, suggesting the connection between everyday life and the mythological, between the sacred and the profane. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less