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Artist_Maker%20%3D%20%227662%22
Painting
Portrait of a Woman as a Bacchante
Attributed to Elizabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1755 - 1842
Vigée-Lebrun, Elizabeth
France
1755 - 1842
Female
Primary
25 x 20 3/4 in. (63.5 x 52.7 cm)
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stretcher
vertical
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overall framed size
frame
Oil
Oil
probably 1790s
1790
1790
18th century, 19th century, Bacchante, paintings, women
Painting
The woman in this painting appears as a Bacchante—a female follower of Bacchus, the god of wine and mystical ecstasy. The cluster of grape leaves symbolize wine; her disheveled hair, scanty dress, and enticing gaze suggest the decadence of Bacchanalian festivals.
During the 1700s, artists frequently portrayed their patrons as figures from classical mythology. Portraits of women in the guise of Bacchantes were also a popular theme for other leading portraitists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds and George Romney. This is possibly a portrait of Emma, Lady Hamilton, the infamous mistress of Lord Nelson. She was known as a performer of “attitudes,” or theatrical poses of Greek mythological and historical characters.
[Forman Gallery, Summer 2015]
back of stretcherback of stretcherback of stretcherback of stretcher
2005.277
item
Memorial Art Gallery
3/3/2006
2005.277DI#1
digital image
full
6/7/2006
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/Inventory pictures/2005.277_I1.jpg
2005.277DI#2
digital image
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/2005.277_A1.jpg
2005.277DI#3
digital image
8/2/2012
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/2005.277_A2.jpg
2005.277DI#4
digital image
1/28/2022
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/2005.277_A3.jpg