CERES, BACCHUS AND VENUS, c. 1645
Oil on canvas
142.5 x 162.7 cm.; 56 1/8 x 64 1/8 in.
Private Collection
The theme of Sine Cerere et Baccho Friget Venus — literally, ‘without Ceres or Bacchus, Venus would freeze’ — is derived from a line in Act IV of The Eunuch, a Roman farce by a Roman dramatist Terence and explained by the 16th-century humanist Erasmus, this image illustrates the idea that food and drink, the gifts of Ceres and Bacchus, nourish desire, as embodied by Venus. Jan Miel united the three gods with reverberating reflections across the image. More on this image.
Jan Miel (1599 in Beveren-Waas — 1663 in Turin) was a Flemish painter and engraver who was active in Italy. He initially formed part of the circle of Dutch and Flemish genre painters in Rome who are referred to as the ‘Bamboccianti’ and were known for their scenes depicting the lower classes in Rome. He later developed away from the Bamboccianti style and painted history subjects in a classicising style…
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Zaidan Gallery 