Bacchus and Ariadne
Maker
(artist)
1717-1808
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1700-1799
1717-1808
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1700-1799
Title
Bacchus and Ariadne
Date of Production
1730 - 1808
Medium
graphite, pen and brown ink and brown wash on laid paper, with brown ink framing lines, cut into shape of a ceiling niche
Dimensions
Height: 41.8 cm
Width: 25.2 cm
Width: 25.2 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.1717
Mode of Acquisition
Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
As narrated by the classical poets Catullus and Ovid, Ariadne was abandoned by her lover Theseus on the shores of Naxos, where she was discovered by Bacchus and his procession of revellers. The god rescued her and brought her to heaven in his chariot driven by leopards. In this elaborate design for a ceiling painting, Mondo employed his characteristic technique of broken pen lines combined with freely applied patches of ink washes.
Provenance
Williams & Sutch (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), n.d.; Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
Special Display - Neapolitan drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 06/10/2011-26/01/2012
Inscriptions
Inscription: Verso: upper centre, graphite, underlined: 2667/3.
Inscription: Verso: lower centre edge, graphite: CW / T [?] [mark associated with Williams & Sutch, not on Lugt]
Inscription: Verso: lower centre, graphite, erased and mostly illegible: Ariadne / Z [...] RA / 1764-1834 .
Collector's mark: Verso: lower right edge, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Watermark: centre: "D & C BLAUW" (according to Churchill, Dutch paper-maker Dirk Blauw & Co., active 1733-1827).
Inscription: Verso: lower centre edge, graphite: CW / T [?] [mark associated with Williams & Sutch, not on Lugt]
Inscription: Verso: lower centre, graphite, erased and mostly illegible: Ariadne / Z [...] RA / 1764-1834 .
Collector's mark: Verso: lower right edge, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).
Watermark: centre: "D & C BLAUW" (according to Churchill, Dutch paper-maker Dirk Blauw & Co., active 1733-1827).
Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.uk. Find out more about using and licensing our images.
____________________________