Shop art print and framed art The Sick Bacchus by Caravaggio

The Little Sick Bacchus: A veiled self-portrait by Caravaggio

Little Bacchus Sick, painted around 1593-1594, is one of the earliest known works by Caravaggio, then aged around twenty. At the time, the Lombard artist, who had just arrived in Rome, was trying to make a name for himself in the city's highly competitive artistic milieu. The 67 cm high by 53 cm wide painting, now housed in the Galleria Borghese in Rome, was long considered to be simply a youthful work, before being recognised as a self-portrait by the painter, depicting himself in the guise of the Roman god of wine, Bacchus. This identification is due in particular to the art historian Roberto Longhi, who was able to find Caravaggio's particular style in this work, and who highlighted the similarities between the model and other known portraits by the Italian painter.

The striking realism of Caravaggio's Little Bacchus ill: Illness staged

The painting is immediately striking for its raw realism, characteristic of the Caravaggesque style. The young man is seated and draped in a simple white cloth. His pallid complexion, bluish lips and dark-rimmed eyes testify to a fragile state of health, perhaps from malaria, a widespread disease at the time. The model holds a bunch of grapes in her right hand, the symbol of Bacchus, while her left hand rests on her thigh in a weary gesture. The subject wears a wreath of ivy, withered and yellowed, reinforcing the melancholy atmosphere of the scene.

The central subject of Caravaggio's Petit Bacchus malade

The central figure, traditionally identified with Bacchus, the god of celebration and drunkenness, is depicted here in an unusual way. Far from the joyful, exuberant image generally associated with this divinity, Caravaggio presents us with a weakened Bacchus. This subversive depiction, which breaks with the iconographic conventions of the time, testifies to the young artist's boldness and originality. It also suggests an autobiographical dimension: the painter, ill and penniless, projects himself into the figure of the fallen god, expressing his own vulnerability and precariousness.

Symbolism of the elements of Sick Little Bacchus

Each element in the painting is charged with meaning. The bunch of black grapes, symbol of Bacchus, here evokes the fragility of life and the ineluctable passage of time. The withered ivy leaves suggest decadence and death. The model's pallid complexion and bluish lips suggest illness, even impending death.

Impact and legacy of the Little Sick Bacchus : A seminal work by Caravaggio

Little Bacchus Sick marked a turning point in Caravaggio's career. This painting, which testifies to his precocious talent and artistic daring, brought him to the attention of wealthy patrons, who commissioned numerous works from him. In artistic terms, this work heralded the Caravaggio revolution that turned 17th-century European painting on its head. The raw realism, dramatic treatment of light, attention to detail and psychology of the characters were all elements that would make Caravaggio famous and influence many artists, from Rembrandt to Velázquez. Le Petit Bacchus malade, the veiled self-portrait of a young artist seeking recognition, has thus become a seminal work, testifying to the birth of a painting genius.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the baroque style.

« The Sick Bacchus » is kept at Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy.

Find the full description of The Sick Bacchus by Caravaggio on Wikipedia.