Lot Essay
These bacchic scenes are illustrations published by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein in Collections of Engravings from Ancient Vases, mostly of pure Greek workmanship, discovered in Sepulchres in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies during the Course of The Years 1789 and 1790, now in the possession of Sir Wm. Hamilton, which were published between 1791 and 1803: volume I in 1791, volumes II and III in 1795, and volume IV in 1803. The collection of vases came to England in 1798 on the Colossus, but the ship went down at sea and the collection was lost. In recent years, however, it was discovered, and the collection is now in the British Museum in the process of being restored.
The first scene illustrates Collection.., op. cit., 1791, I, plate 48. Hamilton's description reads: 'The inhabitants of Bassara, a town in Lydia, were celebrated for the veneration they had for Bacchus and for the zeal which they testified in all the religious ceremonies, which were relative to that Divinity. By this means they acquired such respect from the worshippers of Bacchus that they borrowed from them several objects appertaining to this worship; such was the dress of the Bacchante in this plate, who are dressed in a long robe called a Bassaride. The Bacchante in the middle has her head inclined on her left shoulder. On this occassion it is to be remembered that the Bacchantes when they pretended to be inspired never failed to throw about their heads in such a manner as though they had been convulsed, it was then that they were called Reptauchenes'. The second scene shows an illustration to Collection...,II, 1795, plate 36, of a special country feast held in honour of the Lenaean Bacchus, with a libation being prepared. The bird carried by the youth in a mask is a wryneck, and the dwarf carries a pail, in which he carries the wine for the libation.
The third scene shows an illustration to Tischbein's Collection...op.cit., II, 1795, plate 46, and is the first of two plates illustrating the youthful Bacchus with the Nymphs who had nursed him. Also seen are the fauns, sometimes confused with satyrs, who were the original companions of Bacchus and either Achatus or Methe who is pouring the wine. The final scene shows an an illustration to Collection...I, 1791, plate 34, and represents one of the mysteries of Bacchus. Ariadne is listening to Hymen, who is crowned with myrtle and presenting a quince, the symbol of conjugal life. Beside them a faun is pouring wine into a cup, which Bacchus holds to make the libation or religious act, customary before carrying out an action of importance.
The first scene illustrates Collection.., op. cit., 1791, I, plate 48. Hamilton's description reads: 'The inhabitants of Bassara, a town in Lydia, were celebrated for the veneration they had for Bacchus and for the zeal which they testified in all the religious ceremonies, which were relative to that Divinity. By this means they acquired such respect from the worshippers of Bacchus that they borrowed from them several objects appertaining to this worship; such was the dress of the Bacchante in this plate, who are dressed in a long robe called a Bassaride. The Bacchante in the middle has her head inclined on her left shoulder. On this occassion it is to be remembered that the Bacchantes when they pretended to be inspired never failed to throw about their heads in such a manner as though they had been convulsed, it was then that they were called Reptauchenes'. The second scene shows an illustration to Collection...,II, 1795, plate 36, of a special country feast held in honour of the Lenaean Bacchus, with a libation being prepared. The bird carried by the youth in a mask is a wryneck, and the dwarf carries a pail, in which he carries the wine for the libation.
The third scene shows an illustration to Tischbein's Collection...op.cit., II, 1795, plate 46, and is the first of two plates illustrating the youthful Bacchus with the Nymphs who had nursed him. Also seen are the fauns, sometimes confused with satyrs, who were the original companions of Bacchus and either Achatus or Methe who is pouring the wine. The final scene shows an an illustration to Collection...I, 1791, plate 34, and represents one of the mysteries of Bacchus. Ariadne is listening to Hymen, who is crowned with myrtle and presenting a quince, the symbol of conjugal life. Beside them a faun is pouring wine into a cup, which Bacchus holds to make the libation or religious act, customary before carrying out an action of importance.