Title: Bacchus and Ariadne
Artist: Titan (Tiziano Vecelli)
Year: 1520 – 1523
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Period: High Renaissance
Style/Genre: Mythological paintings for Philip II (1553-1562)
Notes & Analysis of the Artwork
- Tells of the story of roman poets of Bacchus (god of wine), and Ariadne (daughter of the King Minos) on the island of Naxos.
- Aria deserted by her lover (ship seen leaving in the far left).
- The scene shows right after, interrupted by Bacchus and drunken friends.
- Love at first sight, Aria and Bacchus eyes meet.
- Him jumping down to declare his love.
- promises to be more faithful.
- Offers her a constellation (Corona Borealis) as a wedding gift.
- Told with maximum drama.
- Dynamic poses and postures.
- Specifically, Bacchus and Ariadne.
- Draping the main colors in the palette, blue and rose tones.
- Composition filled with color and movement.
- Struggling and twisting movements of the semi naked figures
- Poses taken from Greek sculptures.
- Division of scenery by colors.
Color composition and story
The blue exudes connection.
- Worn by two of the female figures, enclosing Bacchus.
- Bacchus’s want to create a positive change.
- Conveys movement and transition.
The purple represents eternal love and femininity.
- Shown in the female figure towards the right.
- Stand alone, brings froth the meaning of eternal love.
The rose pinks show the spotlight and homes in on love.
- Main color being conveyed in the painting.
- Covering Bacchus, shows he is immersed by love.
- Connection between Bacchus and Ariadne.
- Deep Red shows hurt and vulnerability.
- Bright rose shows acceptance and offering.
The brown w/gold undertones deliver friendship and openness.
- Bold and open, like Bacchus confessing his love.
- Shown in the right half of the image, immersed by the friends.
Chroma Illuminosity 
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