The Nurture of Bacchus
Nicolas Poussin·1624
Historical Context
The Nurture of Bacchus from around 1624 at the Louvre shows the infant god being raised by nymphs, one of Poussin's earliest mythological subjects. These Bacchic themes reflect his immersion in classical mythology during his Roman years. Working in Rome from 1624 onwards, Poussin served a cultivated international clientele of French and Italian patrons who prized his learned, disciplined approach to classical antiquity and religious narrative. His correspondence reveals a painter who regarded...
Technical Analysis
The pastoral composition groups nurturing figures around the infant Bacchus. Poussin's warm palette and fluid early handling create a scene of mythological pastoral tenderness.
