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Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine

1628
Not on view
Ribera's etchings helped him to establish a reputation far beyond Naples, where he lived for most of his life. This etching is often considered his greatest. It relates to a painting he had produced two years earlier now in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples. Occupying the foreground Silenus is crowned by Pan, who is identified by his leopard skin cloak and pan pipes and staff at his feet. Silenus raises his cup to accept another drink of wine. His action is humorously echoed by the two infants at right engaged in similar activities, one of which has passed out. The braying donkey at right adds to the hilarity of the composition. For his composition, Ribera drew inspiration from the prints of other artists, including Mantegna's pair of Bacchanals (29.44.15) and Annibale Carracci's Drunken Silenus (27.78.1.150).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine
  • Artist: Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) (Spanish, Játiva 1591–1652 Naples)
  • Date: 1628
  • Medium: Etching with drypoint, engraving, and burnishing
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 10 11/16 in. × 14 in. (27.2 × 35.5 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: 22.67.14
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Etching and engraving
The Drunken Silenus holding a cup aloft into which a Satyr pours wine
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
1628
The Penitence of Saint Peter, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Etching and engraving
The Penitence of Saint Peter
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
1621
Saint Jerome Reading, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Etching, engraving, and drypoint
Saint Jerome Reading
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
ca. 1624
Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgment, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Etching, engraving, and drypoint; first state of two (Brown)
Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgment
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
1621
Battle Between a Centaur and a Triton with a Triton, Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) Spanish, Etching
Battle Between a Centaur and a Triton with a Triton
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto)
ca. 1620–1640

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