Bacchus by Michelangelo
Bacchus (c. 1496-97) is one of Michelangelo's few works of pagan
rather than Christian subject matter. Commissioned by Cardinal Riario
for a wealthy Roman named Jacopo Galli, the gorgeous and intoxicated
youth reveals a degree of sensuality unprecedented since antiquity. Bacchus explores the chords and cadences of human flesh, a subject fascinating to the young Michelangelo.
 Bacchus by Michelangelo is a marble sculpture, 6 feet 8 inches tall, residing in the Bargello in Florence. |
See the next section of this article for information on another piece of sculptural work by Michelangelo, the Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs -- also based on ancient Roman subject matter.
To learn more about Michelangelo, art history, and other famous artists, see:
