Crowned with a wreath of grapes and vines, this smiling woman with flushed cheeks represents a bacchante-a follower of the wine god Bacchus. Though Vigée-Lebrun was a successful portraitist, this work was probably not intended as an image of a particular individual. Instead, the mythological theme allowed the artist to paint an openly erotic image and demonstrate her skill capturing lively facial expressions.
Credit: Acquired by Sterling and Francine Clark before 1955
1785
Oil on canvas
34.5 x 29.4 x 4.5 in
1955.954
Image and text: The Clark Art Institute, 2024
Where you'll find this
The Clark
Permanent collection